Ontario, Canada: Mumps outbreaks

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.thesudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2166164

MUMPS OUTBREAK IN NORTH BAY TRUMPS H1N1


The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit has confirmed five cases of the mumps in the district, with three cases at Nipissing University, one at Canadore College and one at Ecole Secondaire Franco-Cite.

The outbreak started at the end of September, when one case was confirmed in the district.

Jim Chirico, acting medical officer of health, said they usually see one case a year in the district, but five cases is extremely unusual.

The highly contagious virus causes an infection in the salivary glands and can result in serious illness in adults. Pregnant women who catch the virus in the first trimester are at a greater risk for miscarriage.

The virus is spread through infected saliva when people share drinks, food, cigarettes and musical instruments or through kissing, coughing or sneezing.

Chirico said the mumps outbreak has put an added burden on health unit staff in addition to the H1N1 outbreak and vaccine distribution.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: North Bay, Ontario: Mumps outbreak

Re: North Bay, Ontario: Mumps outbreak

Source: http://www.nugget.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2211768

Mumps outbreak spreads to West Nipissing students ? UPDATED
Health unit confirms 13 cases in the district
Posted By MARIA CALABRESE The Nugget
Updated 7 hours ago


Kissing, sharing cigarettes and athletes drinking out of each other's water bottles may explain why the mumps outbreak is growing among teenagers and young adults.

The outbreak at Nipissing University and Canadore College last month ? traced to someone who travelled outside of the country ? has spread to West Nipissing, with a total of 13 confirmed cases in the district, said Dr. Jim Chirico, medical officer of health with the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit.

The average age of people infected is 20 and has been primarily males.

"This is probably the highest cluster in Ontario," Chirico told a news conference Tuesday, noting there are 60 cases in the province.

Meningitis can occur in 10% of cases, with one case in the district likely linked to the mumps virus.

Anyone born after 1992 likely received two doses of the MMR (mumps, measles, rubella) vaccine, while people born between 1970 to 1992 may have only received one dose and can get a catch-up vaccination.

Two vaccination clinics are planned in West Nipissing.

Chirico said 62% of cases in the district involve people who received both doses, while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has seen that in about 72% of cases.

"One of the theories is that the virus has mutated. That's possible. Other possibilities could be that the vaccine wears off in a shorter period of time than we had anticipated," Chirico said.

He said close contact in schools could also be behind the outbreak.

Mumps is an infection of the salivary glands caused by a virus, and it spreads easily through the exchange of saliva by sharing drinks, food, cigarettes, musical instruments, kissing, coughing and sneezing.

"Teenagers are more likely to spread it just because of the social contact that they have. That's why we're trying to get the message out to them," Chirico said.

The health unit recommends people check to see if they have received both MMR vaccine doses, as well as washing hands frequently and not sharing personal items that come in contact with saliva.

"If you don't have the catch-up vaccination, you should really look at your immunization records and check with your family doctor to make sure that you've had the two doses."

Chirico said affected school boards have been contacted to work with teachers and staff to reduced the risk of exposure.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Ontario, Canada: Mumps outbreaks

Source: http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/732013

Concerns raised over local cases of the mumps

March 03, 2010
By Jenni Dunning
Hamilton Spectator

Several recent cases of the mumps in Hamilton have prompted an investigation by the city?s public health services, which is urging people to get vaccinated.

Mumps hasn?t popped up here since 2006.

The five reported cases, all since January, involve people aged 20 to 60.

The highly contagious viral disease can create serious complications in adults, such as encephalitis, deafness and infertility.

People are asked to contact a physician if experiencing any mumps symptoms, including fever, headache, muscle ache and pains, tiredness, and loss of appetite.

Swelling and pain in one or both salivary glands ? located within the cheek near the angle of the jaw ? is also common.

To speak with a public health nurse, contact 905-540-5250.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Ontario, Canada: Mumps outbreaks

Source: http://www.windsorstar.com/health/Nine+year+Windsor+Essex+mumps/2672990/story.html

Nine-year-old in Windsor-Essex has mumps

By Star Staff, The Windsor StarMarch 12, 2010

WINDSOR, Ont. -- The local health unit has confirmed a case of the mumps in a nine-year-old elementary school student.

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit has not announced which school the student attends, but health protection director Deb Bennett said the school board has already been contacted and the child is no longer going to classes.

Sixty students at the school were deemed at risk by the health unit due to the case, as those pupils? immunization shots were not updated. Letters have already been sent to the parents of those 60 children to inform them that their child may have been exposed to mumps and to encourage them to obtain the measles, mumps and rubella immunization shot.

Meanwhile, three children have been excluded from the school until the outbreak is under control...

...Bennett said while mumps are on the rise across the province, the local health unit only sees about one or two cases per year.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Ontario, Canada: Mumps outbreaks

Source: http://www.windsorstar.com/health/Vaccination+only+beat+mumps/2776006/story.html


Vaccination the only way to beat mumps
Special to The Windsor StarApril 8, 2010


Dear Dr. Heimann: I heard there was a child who had mumps at a school in Windsor.

How can that be? I thought there was a vaccine for mumps? -- Concerned parent

Yes, there was a confirmed case of mumps. According to the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, there have been 114 confirmed mumps cases in Ontario; 74 per cent were males from six to 70 years of age since September 2009...

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Ontario, Canada: Mumps outbreaks

Mumps case reported on campus

By Communications Staff
Tuesday, October 26, 2010

A student at The University of Western Ontario has been diagnosed with mumps and the Middlesex-London Health Unit says it is possible that more students may develop the infection.
...
Anyone who develops symptoms of mumps should stay home for at least five days from the start of symptoms to prevent spread to others. Students who the think they may be infected should not attend classes and should call their health care provider or Student Health Services at 519-661-3030. <DIV">


<DIV class=contentintro>...</DIV><DIV class=contentintro><DIV></DIV><DIV></DIV><DIV>The Middlesex-London Health Unit Immunization Clinic is located at 50 King Street, on the corner of King and Ridout, and is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. On the first and third Wednesday of each month, it is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. No appointment and no health card are needed. <DIV">

For more information contact the Middlesex-London Health Unit at 519-663-5317 ext. 2330 or visit the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care website.


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