Mumps

 

 

A message from the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit
 
Mumps is a serious infection of the salivary glands that is caused by a virus. It spreads from person-to-person when infected saliva or droplets enter a person’s mouth or nose from a sneeze or cough. There is no treatment for mumps. To prevent the spread of the disease to others, wash hands frequently and avoid sharing personal items that come in contact with saliva.
 
Those at greatest risk are teens and young adults, with the average age being 20 years of age with more cases seen in males. Anyone who gets mumps must spend nine days isolated at home. Serious complications can result from having mumps, including: painful and swollen testicles, which in rare cases leads to sterility; meningitis and encephalitis; hearing loss; and miscarriages during the first three months of pregnancy.
 
Help educate others to stop the spread of this serious disease. Please share the following messages:

• Do not share water bottles
• Do not share food or anything else that has been in contact with someone else’s saliva
• Avoid kissing others on the mouth
• Wash hands often and well
• Cough and sneeze into your sleeve.

If someone has the following symptoms, isolate them from others and call their health care provider or Telehealth at 1-866-797-0000:

• Fever
• Swelling and tenderness of the salivary glands
• Headache
• Cold-like symptoms
• Males may have swollen and tender testicles.

All children in Ontario are recommended to receive two doses of vaccine for mumps (MMR). Those born between 1970 and 1992 may have received only one dose. For those who require a catch-up mumps immunization please call your health care provider.
 
For more information about mumps, contact Telehealth at 1-866-797-0000, or visit the following websites:

• North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit
• Ministry of Health and Long Term Care
• Public Health Agency of Canada