Canada, U.S. concern with reappearance of Mumps

Mumps is a viral and contagious disease causing swelling of the salivary glands in cheeks and spreads through saliva and respiratory droplets .

"It can also be associated with deafness, meningitis," said Dr. Sarah Wilson, medical epidemiologist with Public Health Ontario. "There are
significant complications but fortunately for most people, it's an unpleasant, uncomfortable experience that resolves," CBC News reports said.

19 cases of Mumps in Ontario so far compared with the usual annual count of five to 23 has alarmed health officials.

Toronto Public Health was investigating 14 lab-confirmed cases of Mumps since January compared to the average of four cases each year for the last five years.

All of the cases have been confirmed in adults aged 18 to 35, with the investigation focused on bars on the west side of downtown, a place where infection spreads easily.

Dr. Monika Naus, medical director for immunization programs at the BC Centre for Disease Control also confirmed outbreaks in Nova Scotia in 2007 and in 2016 in Whistler, B.C. occurred in bars.

Naus recommended self-isolation of the infected individuals for nine days, in particular for the first five days.

While Canada was considering booster vaccination in young adults for Mumps the U.S. federal officials were looking into the benefits of a third dose.

"Although the disease has not been serious, the disruption and expense it has caused for local and state health officials has been significant," said Mona Marin, a viral diseases expert with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CBC News reports said.

(Reported by Asha Bajaj)

Imgae of Mumps infection: Wikipedia