Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph health authorities have reported five laboratory-confirmed cases of mumps in students that attend Bishop MacDonnell and Our Lady of Lourdes High Schools in Guelph. In all cases the students had received the recommended two doses of the MMR vaccine.
Mumps was last confirmed in Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph in January 2010. The Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine is the best form of defense against the disease.
Mumps is a contagious disease that is caused by the mumps virus. Mumps typically starts with a few days of fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite, and is followed by swelling of salivary glands. Anyone who is not immune from either previous mumps infection or from vaccination can get mumps.
A person can spread mumps from seven days before the start of symptoms until five days after symptoms appear. It usually takes 12 to 25 days (average 16-18 days) for symptoms to start after someone has been exposed.
Health officials advise the public to check your immunization record to see if you have had the mumps vaccine. Two doses of Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) are required. The first dose must have been given after your first birthday. If you require immunization please see your doctor or book an appointment with Public Health.
One thought on “Canada: Five mumps cases reported in Guelph high schools, 1st cases in five years”