Vaccine Call Amid Mumps Outbreak

An outbreak of mumps among young adults in Lanarkshire has seen more than 30 people infected in two weeks. Health bosses are urging those aged between 20 and 35 to get both doses of the MMR vaccination if they have not already done so. It follows a ten-fold increase in the expected number of mumps cases in Lanarkshire, with 31 cases identified since January 7, compared with an average of around three or four cases a month. The majority of those affected have been men aged between 20 and 35 and most reside around Cumbernauld, Lanark and Biggar. All Lanarkshire GPs have been notified of the increase in cases. Mumps is highly infectious and can be spread over a wide area by a cough or a sneeze from an infected individual. It is particularly common in student populations because of greater social mixing. The virus can lead to fever, headache, and painful, swollen glands in the face, neck and jaw. In serious cases it can result in permanent deafness, viral meningitis and encephalitis. Health officials stressed that it is normally a mild illness but that immunisation is important to prevent complications. Dr David Cromie, NHS Lanarkshire consultant in public health medicine, said: "Mumps is a viral disease, usually experienced during childhood, but people of any age can be affected if they have not had the illness before or have not been fully vaccinated. "Symptoms can include fever, headache, swelling of one or both cheeks or sides of the jaw, and swollen glands. "It's an infection that can have serious complications including affecting the brain and, in very rare cases, can lead to fatal complications. If you have any of the symptoms, contact your GP. Tests can be carried out to confirm the illness.'' The MMR vaccine, routinely given to young children, is said to be the most effective way to protect against mumps. Anyone unsure about their vaccination history is being urged to check with their GP. "Two doses of the MMR vaccine provide a 99% chance of protection,'' Dr Cromie added. "People who are currently between 20 and 35 years of age, (born between 1980 and 1995), will tend not to have experienced natural mumps infection. "So, unless they have had two doses of the MMR vaccine, these people will be at a higher risk of suffering from mumps, particularly when the mumps illness is circulating in the community, as at present, or when travelling abroad to countries where mumps spreads more commonly. "Those who have had one dose of the MMR vaccine only need one more dose to complete the course.''