The Travel Doctor
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Mumps outbreak in Cumbria, England
Wednesday, 1 July, 2009
A mumps outbreak has been reported last week in Cumbria, (which embraces the English Lake District) and a general increase in cases has been seen across the county. In the last few years there has been a noticeable increase in the number of cases of mumps, particularly in teenagers and young adults. This is of concern as mumps is easily spread. .Mumps virus infection causes fever, headache, and painful swollen glands in the face neck and jaw and although most cases are mild some people can experience complications, for example meningitis, which can be serious. It may in some cases also affect fertility. The incomplete acceptance of the triple MMR vaccine in the UK which occurred some years back because of a subsequently disproved theory of association with autism, has allowed continued circulation of mumps virus in the community and leaves a cohort of young adults vulnerable to infection.
Young adults in Australasia should have been protected by MMR immunisation in infancy and during the school years. If in doubt before travel either have a blood test to determine immunity or simply have a booster dose of mumps-measles-rubella vaccine.
