The Travel Doctor
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Mumps in Israel
Wednesday, 25 November, 2009
Since the beginning of September, 105 people have been diagnosed with mumps in Israel. Most between the ages of 10 and 24. During the same period in 2008, only 4 people were diagnosed with the disease. Only 13 cases were reported for the entire year. In 2007, only 6 mumps cases were reported. Of the current cases, 82 are people from Jerusalem, but the disease has also been found in the central region (12 cases), Tel Aviv (5), the south (4), and Haifa (2). One of the patients developed testicular infection, a complication of mumps, and is hospitalized in a Jerusalem hospital.
The outbreak is thought to have occurred because of low vaccine coverage, particularly among some ultra-orthodox religious groups who decline vaccination.
Travellers must ensure that they have had the mumps-measles-rubella vaccinations according to the Australian schedule or have a blood test to determine immunity to mumps.
