Canada: Spike in mumps continues in Manitoba

According to reports, 100 new cases of mumps were diagnosed in Mantoba’s north

Rusk said although the number of confirmed cases were rising in the North, the numbers in Winnipeg and rural regions continued to decrease.

As of April 7, about 290 confirmed cases of mumps were diagnosed since Sept. 1, 2016, the highest number in two decades.

It was the seventh month since the outbreak of Mumps in Manitoba. Other provinces, such as Alberta and Nova Scotia, had seen the outbreak last from seven to 12 months, Rusk said.

Mumps is a highly contagious and viral disease is easily passed from person to person, said the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

The most common symptom of mumps, says PHAC, is swelling of saliva producing glands which can make the cheek or neck bulge out on one or both sides.

Sometimes more serious complications like hearing loss or swelling of other glands, including testicles can be caused by virus.

Vaccination with the mumps vaccine, which is given in combination with the measles and rubella vaccines as part of routine childhood vaccination programs, is the best way of preventing Mumps, says PHAC.

If you develop symptoms of mumps, advised PHAC, particularly swelling of the cheeks or neck, you should consult your health care provider immediately.

Patients are advised to call ahead to ensure that others are not exposed to the disease.

It should be ascertained that all your vaccinations are up to date.

Rusk said he was encouraged that there were no new reports of complications such as deafness, encephalitis, meningitis and sterility, which he had seen in earlier the outbreak.

People were being reminded again and again to get immunized.

This Thursday a meeting is scheduled to analyze the most recent data of how many people with mumps had been vaccinated earlier.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)