Islanders alerted to vaccinate for mumps
HEALTH authorities are urging residents of Palm Island to check their immunisation records are up to date after a declared outbreak of mumps.
The Townsville Public Health Unit confirmed yesterday an adult male with no recent travel history had been diagnosed as having the contagious viral illness. TPHU director Dr Steven D o n o h u e said all r e s i d e n t s and visitors to Palm Isl a n d s h o u l d c h e c k their meas l e s , m u m p s , r u b e l l a ( M M R ) i mmunismatter of ation status urgency.
“Extra doses of MMR vaccine have been ordered and will be arriving on Palm Island shortly,” Dr Donohue said.
“Every indigenous person between the ages of 15 and 30 should receive a free extra immunisation dose, including those who are already fully vaccinated.
“I’d urge everyone else born after 1965 to check their immunisation status to ensure they have received their two doses of the MMR vaccine and if they haven’t, to get vaccinated immediately.”
Mumps is typically a minor illness that can cause swelling of the glands behind the jaw as well as fever, headaches and tiredness, with most people recovering within a week.
However, in severe cases, the illness can affect the testicles, pancreas or cause hearing loss. Rarely, it leads to meningitis: inflammation of the membranes around the brain and spine.
Residents of Palm Island can receive their MMR vaccination at Joyce Palmer Health Service. as a