The province has confirmed a spike in cases of mumps in Manitoba, saying there have been nine diagnosed since Sept. 1.
It said in a news release Thursday the majority of the cases are students at the University of Manitoba who live in Winnipeg and were not hospitalized.
According to the province, Manitoba typically experiences about four to five cases of mumps a year.
This comes after the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority issued an alert on the University of Manitoba’s website, urging students to take steps to protect themselves.
WRHA officials are investigating each of these cases, the province said, adding those appropriate will be offered immunization.
The province said those with mumps will be asked to restrict their contact with others to reduce the risk of spreading the disease.
While there can be complications from mumps, the province said the majority of cases are mild with full recovery in one to two weeks. Symptoms include swelling and pain in one or more salivary glands, usually on both sides of the face, and fever.
The mumps virus can spread when an infected person passes fluids from the mouth or nose to another by sharing drinks, food, cigarettes, or by kissing, coughing or sneezing near another person.
The province said the virus can spread to others from two to three days before and four to five days after symptoms appear. Some infected may not have symptoms at all, officials said, but are still at risk of spreading the illness.
The province has offered a two-dose measles, mumps and rubella vaccine program since 1996. The immunization is offered free as part of Manitoba’s routine immunization schedule at one, four and six-years-old.
Manitobans should contact their health care provider to find out if they need the vaccine.
Anyone who thinks they might have mumps or who has been in contact with someone diagnosed with the disease should call their health care provider or Health Links at 204-788-8200 or 1-888-315-9257.
