227 SO FAR THIS YEAR... AND JUST UNDER HALF ARE IN GWYNEDD
CASES of suspected mumps have rocketed in North Wales, with just under half of all reports coming from Gwynedd.
New figures published by Public Health England revealed 227 suspected cases of the infection were reported across the region between January 1 and July 1 this year.
That figure compares to just six suspected cases over the same period in 2018.
It is the highest number since comparable records began in 2011.
The majority of reports came from Gwynedd, where 95 suspected cases were recorded.
Wrexham, Flintshire, Denbighshire and Conwy all reported between 35 and 26 suspected cases, while Anglesey had 11.
Confirmed cases are predominantly in older teenagers and young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 and include clusters reported among university students.
Public Health England says the increase could come down to a number of children, who missed out on MMR due to concerns in the late 1990s, now reaching university age.
Public Health Wales is now urging anybody born after 1970, who has not received two doses of the MMR vaccine, to ensure they are vaccinated.
Dr Simon Cottrell, principal epidemiologist at Public Health Wales said: “There has been an increase in the number of cases of mumps in North Wales notified to Public Health Wales between January and June 2019.
“The highest number of cases were in teenagers and young adults aged 18 to 24 years, and include clusters reported among students attending universities.
“Vaccination with the MMR vaccine, which also protects against measles and rubella, remains the best way of preventing mumps infections.
“Although the MMR vaccine
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is less effective against mumps than it is against measles and rubella, it is still estimated that it will protect seven to eight people out of every 10.”
Mumps is a contagious viral infection that used to be common in children before the introduction of the MMR vaccine. It’s most recognisable by the painful swellings at the side of the face and under the ears. There may be swelling around the ovaries (in girls) or testes (in boys after puberty).
The disease is transmitted by direct contact with saliva or droplets from the saliva of an infected person.
Most cases of mumps are mild – about a third of people infected with the virus develop no symptoms – but when complications occur they can be serious. In rare cases, mumps can lead to viral meningitis if the virus moves into the outer layer of the brain. More common symptoms can include headaches, joint pain and a high temperature, which may develop a few days before the swelling of the parotid glands.
Doctors are required to report any suspected cases of certain infectious diseases to their local authority or local Health Protection Team, although not all cases will be confirmed.
There have been 8,773 suspected cases of mumps across England and Wales since the start of this year, according to Public Health England.
This was up from 3,716 in the same period in 2018.
Jamie Lopez-Bernal at Public Health England added: “It is normal to see mumps outbreaks in this group but it looks like there are more cases this year.
“This may be because those children who missed out on MMR due to concerns in the late Nineties are now reaching university age. We’re monitoring closely and urging parents and their children to check they’ve had two doses of MMR if they’re unsure. It’s never too late to get the jab.”