THE island has been hit by an outbreak of mumps.
The viral disease has taken hold among a generation of people who weren’t vaccinated after the MMR autism scare in the 1990s.
Until the end of November, the island had seen 196 cases so far this year. More have been reported since the beginning of this month.
Usually, the figures would be measured in dozens.
Dr Paul Emerson, consultant in public health medicine , said: ‘It is down to a combination of things.
‘In the 1990s, uptake of the MMR vaccine [among children] fell because of the Wakefield fiasco which linked MMR to autism and which was proven to be unfounded.’
That generation, now adolescents and in their 20s, have been hit in the latest outbreak.
Those born before 1970, before vaccination, were more likely to have natural lifelong immunity.
The MMR vaccine drops off in effectiveness 10 to 15 years after it’s given. So anyone who had the jab when they were younger should see their GP again to get a booster.
‘Mumps is more serious in men,’ said Dr Emerson. ‘It can lead to sterility. It can lead to a nasty fever and pain in the groin area.’
Women are also more likely to miscarry if they get mumps in the first trimester of a pregnancy.
Dr Emerson stressed there was no evidence it could lead to foetal abnormalities.
The virus is not as infectious as measels or chicken pox. However, it is spread the same way as flu, though direct contact with saliva, coughing, sneezing and kissing.
So encounters under the mistletoe during the festive season might be best avoided.
Dr Emerson advised anyone with mumps to treat the symptoms.
Earlier this year, St George’s football team was hit by the virus as five players contracted the virus.
Anecdotal reports received at Isle of Man Newspapers suggest a number of school classes and workplaces have been affected.
Mumps is a serious infection which can cause the following symptoms:
•Painful inflammation and swelling of the salivary glands under one or both sides of the jaw
•Fever and headache
Complications can include:
•Inflammation of the pancreas
•Viral meningitis (inflammation of the brain)
•Inflamed and swollen testicles in men and ovaries in women
•Mumps can also cause deafness.
The MMR vaccine is the best way to prevent mumps. It should be routinely given when children are 12 months old, and a second dose should be given when they are three years and four months old.
