Mumps in Whistler

Recently there have been five confirmed cases of mumps in Whistler, mostly males in their 20’s.  Mumps is a contagious viral infection and your best protection is immunization.  We are encouraging anyone who has not been immunized and was born after 1957 to call the health unit and make an appointment.  Anyone who has already had mumps does not need to be vaccinated.

Mumps can be a sometimes serious illness – the virus is easily spread through close contact with an infected person through breathing, coughing, or sneezing or from direct saliva contact (kissing, sharing drinks and/or cigarettes). The incubation period for mumps is generally 16 – 18 days, but can be up to 25 days from date of exposure. Persons with the mumps virus can infect other people from seven days before and nine days after developing mumps.

Mumps is a viral illness causing fever and swelling of the salivary glands in the face, which are located below the jaw and ears and under the tongue. Not everyone infected with mumps will have salivary gland swelling. Complications can occur as a result of mumps infections including swelling of the testes in adult males and swelling of the ovaries in adult females, although sterility is a rare outcome. Rare complications include inflammation of the brain (meningitis) and temporary but often permanent deafness.

If you think you have mumps disease, please stay home from work and social events. Contact your doctor before going to the clinic to avoid infecting other patients and office staff. Notify your public health nurse as soon as possible.

For protection against mumps: 2 doses of mumps containing vaccine are recommended for all individuals born on or after January 1st 1970; 1 dose is recommended for all individuals born  January 1st 1957 and December 31st 1969 who do not have evidence of immunity to mumps disease. This vaccine will not protect you if you have already been exposed. This vaccine is given as MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella).Clinic hours  

• Thursday, March 10, 2011 3:30pm-6:30pm
• Tuesday, March, 15, 2011 3:30pm-6:30pm
• Thursday, March,17, 2011 3:30pm-6:30pm

All clinics are at the Whistler Health Care Centre - Multipurpose Room on the 2nd floor, 4380 Lorimer Road , Whistler  604-932-3202.  All clinics will be drop-in. No appointment necessary.

You can find information you can trust at ImmunizeBC.  Your family physician, nurse practitioner, public health nurse, or HealthLink BC (8-1-1) can also help if you have questions.

 

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