The Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit has accepted an offer by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term care to offer immunization clinics for the mumps at post-secondary schools in Muskoka.

According to Laurie Stanford, manager of the vaccines preventable diseases program for the health unit, incidences of the mumps have been increasing across Canada primarily among post-secondary students. A viral infection that causes symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches and pains and painful swelling of the salivary glands, mumps is spread from person-to-person through direct contact with oral and respiratory secretions.

Since 2001, Ontario has had an average of 15 cases of mumps reported each year and, more recently, 28 cases of mumps were reported in 2007, which was linked to an outbreak in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Two cases reported in 2008 were linked to an outbreak in Alberta. The outbreaks were in post-secondary institutions, and the majority of those who contracted mumps in these outbreaks had only received one dose of the mumps/measles/rubella vaccine.

“An increase in mumps has been rumbling along for a few years,” Stanford said. “By August 2007, there were over 700 cases of mumps in nine (of Canada’s) provinces. In Europe, we knew mumps was increasing in the post-secondary age group, so we weren’t really surprised when we started to see some cases (in Canada.)”

Stanford attributed the increase in mumps among post-secondary students to not only the fact that they often share close living quarters, but “the waning immunity of the vaccine as well.” She stated that many students in post-secondary education only received one dose of the mumps/measles/rubella vaccination.

“Most kids receive the vaccination at 12 months of age, and it’s only been since 1996 for two doses,” she said. “Some students may have received a second vaccination for measles but not for mumps.”

Although mumps is usually a mild disease, if serious complications arise it can result in encephalitis (swelling of the brain), meningitis (swelling of the protective surface of the brain), deafness (usually temporary, but can be permanent), pancreatitis, swelling of the testes or ovaries (which can rarely result in infertility) and miscarriage if infection happens in the first trimester of pregnancy

Individuals who were born between 1970 and 1992 should check their immunization records to see if they had two doses of the mumps/measles/rubella vaccine, said Stanford.

While students can take advantage of the immunization clinics the health unit will be holding, the general public can access the vaccine through their health care providers. She indicated that in order to host the clinics for students, there had to be a “reasonable amount” of students in need of the vaccine.  

“We know how many students there are at each college, but these clinics are not compulsory, they are voluntary,” said Stanford. “We’re working with the colleges to help promote the (immunization catch-up) program, and we’ve sent out letters and announcements.”

Catch-up immunization clinics start today at the Nippising and Georgian college campuses in Bracebridge. Other clinics will be held in Midland, Barrie and Orillia throughout January.

“This is a great opportunity for people to find out about their tetanus shots and it’s also a good time think about how infectious diseases are spread,” she said.

For more information on mumps visit the health unit’s website at www.simcoemuskokahealth.org.