Teenagers in mumps warning

Oldham teenagers are being urged to protect themselves as cases of mumps soar.

Confirmed cases of the virus shot up to 38 at the end of November compared with just two at the same time last year.

Suspected cases rose to 72 this year compared with 15 last year.

Across Greater Manchester, there have been a total of 315 confirmed cases this year up from 36 cases last year. Suspected cases have also doubled and stand at 747.

Professor Qutub Syed, director of the Health Protection Agency (HPA) North West, said: “Teenagers and young adults who have not had two doses of MMR vaccine are particularly vulnerable.

“There is evidence in parts of the region that the disease is spreading in student populations.

“That is why we are working closely with the universities and colleges of further education to inform students about mumps and to explain why vaccination is important.

“However, it’s not just students who are at risk and we would urge everyone up to the age of 25 to consult their family doctors about having two doses of MMR vaccine if they are currently unprotected.

“MMR also gives immunity to measles and rubella.”

Mumps is a serious virus with symptoms including painful inflammation and swelling of the salivary glands under the jaw, fever and headache.

Complications can include inflammation of the pancreas, viral meningitis, and inflamed and swollen testicles in men and ovaries in women.

Mumps can also cause deafness and on very rare occasions can be fatal.