HomeMy WebLinkAboutLucknow Sentinel, 2009-03-04, Page 9Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, March 4, 2009 - Page 9
People born between 1970-1991 could be at risk to mumps
Mumps is back -
are you and your
children protected?
Anyone born
between 1970 and
1991 could be at
risk of getting the
mumps. Mumps is
a very contagious
disease that can
cause serious com-
plications.
People born
before 1970 were
given one dose and
have acquired nat-
ural immunity.
Children born after
1991 were given
two doses of the
vaccine and are
considered
immune to mumps.
Those born
between 1970 and
1991 need a sec-
ond booster dose
of the vaccine to be
fully protected
against the disease.
The vaccine is
available free at
your doctor's
office or the Huron
County Health
Unit.
The ' Huron
County Health
Unit is • strongly
recommending
everyone in the 18
to 39 yearage
group get the
mumps catch-up
vaccination. Public
Health ,Nurse
Michelle Carter
says they are espe-
cially - encouraging
young adults
attending post sec-
ondary schools
who may have
received only one
dose of measles,
mumps, rubella,
(MMR) as young
children to get a
booster dose of
MMR vaccine.
"Students spend
time in close envi-
ronments, which
can increase the
spread of infection.
That's why we par-
ticularly want this
age group to get
vaccinated." In the
last few years, sev-
eral mumps out-
breaks' have
occurred mainly at
universities and
colleges in four
provinces in
Canada.
Carter says they
are also encourag-
ing health care
workers to . get an
MMR booster. She
says anyone who
works in hospitals,
medical centres
and emergency
medical services
are in high risk
environments for
exposure to
mumps.
Mumps . spreads
through direct con-
tact with saliva
from an infected
person. Droplets
from coughs or
sneezes can enter-
the nose or mouth.
Infection can also
result from kissing,
or by sharing food
or beverages. The
virus can also sur-
vive on surfaces.
Touching a surface
contaminated by
the mumps virus
and then touching
your nose or mouth
can cause infec-
tion.
Mumps is a virus
that can cause
fever, headaches,
muscle aches and
fatigue, followed
by swelling and
pain in one or more
salivary glands.
Most people recov-
er from their ill-
ness but the infec-
tion can result in
complications that
include infections
of the brain, the
lining of the brain
(meningitis), the
ovaties, breasts or
pancreas. Deafness
can be a rare com-
plication. One in
three men infected
with , mumps,
develops an infec-
tion in their testi-
cles, though very
rare, these infec-
tions can result in
infertility. Pregnant
women who get
mumps during the
first trimester are
also at increased
risk of miscarriage.
To remove risk of
transmitting the
mut-kips, isolation
for nine days ` is
required..
The Ministry of
Health and Long -
Submitted photo
Teeswater Agricultural Society president SharonYorke is being
presented with $ 1000 cheque from Bruce County International
Plowing Match 2008 Wagon Ride committee member, Marjan •
Ireland.
Term Care is con-
ducting a province -
wide Mumps
Campus Tour of
universities and
colleges • in
January, February
and March. For a
complete schedule
of the campus clin-
ics or more infor-
mation on mumps,
v i s i t
www.ontario.ca/m
umps.
Why should I be
vaccinated?
If . you get the
mumps, chances
are you will miss
out on things 'that
are important to
you - school, work,
sports . and spend-
ing time with fami-
ly and friends.
Complications
from mumps can
also be serious.
Mumps outbreaks
among . young
adults and students
attending post -sec-
ondary institutions
have occurred
across the country.
Four out of five
young adults ' born
in Ontario between
1970 and 1991 are
not fully protected
against mumps and
did not receive the
2
vaccines
required. Young
adults have the
highest risk of
infection because
they tend to live,
work, and socialize
in close proximity
-- especially those
who attend post-
secondary schools.
Continued on page 11
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