Mumps worst in 23 years

Auckland is in the grips of a serious mumps outbreak, the likes of which hasn’t been seen for more than 20 years.

Health authorities say the outbreak began in West Auckland and has now spread across the region.

The last similar outbreak of mumps was in 1994 when there were between 200-300 cases reported. Since then only handfuls of cases were reported each year, many from overseas.

But this year, more than 311 cases of mumps have spread across the city with Auckland Regional Public Health Service medical officer of health Josephine Herman saying she had seen mumps-related meningitis, testes inflammation and cases of hospitalisation.

Mumps is an infectious viral illness which can cause fever, soreness, swelling in the face and general malaise.

Most people recover after a few weeks, but mumps can have serious complications.

The disease can cause inflammation of tissue surrounding the brain (meningitis), inflamed testicles or ovaries, and permanent