Students have been advised to make sure they have had the MMR vaccine following a sharp rise in the number of cases of mumps reported in recent weeks.
Mumps has been on the increase since the beginning of 2008, particularly in the under 25 year age group, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre warned today. It said students starting or returning to college are considered particularly vulnerable following at least seven outbreaks in third level colleges so far this year.
Mumps is a contagious acute viral illness that causes fever, headache and painful swollen glands. Complications are usually mild but it can cause meningitis, deafness and inflammation of the testicles, ovaries or pancreas.
"New students who haven't been vaccinated or who haven't had mumps need to talk to their GP or student health service about getting protected. So far this year 459 cases have been reported, 22 of whom were admitted to hospital. Almost 60 per cent of cases have been in 10 to 24 year olds," said HPSC specialist in public health medicine, Dr. Joan O Donnell.
"This follows 142 cases in 2007, well down on 1079 in 2005 which came after a nationwide outbreak that year. It appears that most of these cases caught mumps in third level colleges or secondary schools," she added.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre said that students need to be aware that the best way to avoid mumps is to get vaccinated.
The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps and rubella and two doses are needed to protect against infection. Anyone who is not sure about their vaccination status is advised to get another dose to be on the safe side.
The vaccine is free although an administration fee may apply for non-medical card holders.
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