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HSE issues mumps warning as 132 cases reported last week - the highest weekly number in over a decade

Symptoms of mumps include fever, headache and painful swollen salivary glands.

LAST UPDATE | 17 Jan 2020

THE HSE HAS warned students at colleges and universities to ensure they are fully vaccinated against mumps. 

There were a total of 132 cases of mumps reported to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) last week. The HSE confirmed that this is the highest weekly number of reported cases in over a decade.

“During the 2019 outbreak period there were other weeks where in excess of 120 notifications were made in any one week.

“During the 2009 outbreak there were a number of weeks when the number of notifications exceeded this number reported [last week],” a spokesperson told TheJournal.ie

There were 62 cases in the first week of 2020. More of the recent cases have been in the east of the country. 

There were about 2,500 reported mumps cases nationwide in 2019, up from 573 in 2018.

The number of cases has fluctuated in recent years, with a spike in 2015. There were 291 cases in 2017, 488 in 2016, 2,014 in 2015 and 742 in 2014.

mumps age and gender HPSC HPSC

Mumps is spread between people by coughing and sneezing and can be transmitted through direct contact with saliva. Symptoms include fever, headache and painful swollen salivary glands.

Mumps activity peaked in May of 2019, but it declined during the summer months. However, mumps cases began increasing again in the second week of September.

This coincided with the reopening of schools, colleges, institutes of technology and universities. At the time, universities in Dublin issued warnings to students about the outbreak. 

Warning to students 

The HSE has now issued fresh warnings over mumps outbreaks around the country as students begin returning to colleges and universities.

In the current outbreak, the greatest number of cases are in the 15-24 age group and the median age of cases is 20 years old.

A HSE spokesperson said there were low levels of uptake of the MMR vaccine among this age group when they were two years old, in 2001 and 2002. 

“The immunisation uptake for children aged 24 months in the relevant period of 2002 (the current 19-year-old age cohort) was 75%.

“Therefore this cohort had a history of low MMR uptake at 24 months. This may be one of the reasons contributing to the mumps outbreak,” the spokesperson told us.  

Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland earlier, HSE assistant national director of public health Dr Kevin Kelleher said that outbreaks are happening because a large portion of 15 to 30-year-olds in Ireland don’t have full protection against mumps. 

“It’s a consequence of the fact that a large-ish portion of our 15 to 30-year-olds have not got a full protection against mumps from the MMR vaccine because not all of them are getting the vaccine or are only having one dose,” Kelleher said.

“You need to have at least two doses to protect yourself properly,” he added. 

The HSE has asked students to check their vaccination status before returning to college. 

“If they’re not sure at all, just have a vaccine before you go back to college,” Kelleher said. 

“You really do need to make sure before you go back to college that you have the vaccine,” he said. 

“What we’re really trying to do is to ensure that this doesn’t on to the point where it will start affecting students’ performance, particularly around the time of exams later in the year.” 

Vaccinations

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre said the best protection against mumps is to be age-appropriately vaccinated with the MMR vaccine. 

Children are routinely recommended the MMR vaccine at 12 months and at the age of five to six through the national immunisation programme. 

Older children and adults particularly those born since 1978, who never had the MMR vaccine or only one dose, should speak to their GP about getting the vaccine, the HPSC advised. 

Receiving two doses of MMR vaccine will protect about 88% of individuals who have received the vaccine against clinical mumps.

With reporting by Órla Ryan 

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    Mute Rónán Strain
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    Nov 24th 2019, 3:47 PM

    Sounds like another pseudo liberal like Clinton. Hopefully Sanders will win the nomination this time and finally put an end to this Trump circus of ignorance, sexism and racism.

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    Mute bopter
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:06 PM

    Think he’s aiming for a Sanders – Bloomberg or Biden – Bloomberg ticket.

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    Mute Caoimhín O Neill
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    Nov 24th 2019, 6:52 PM

    @Rónán Strain: you forgot jobs, wealth, zero wars, boosted economy too

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    Mute Rónán Strain
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    Nov 24th 2019, 9:08 PM

    @Caoimhín O Neill: you forgot being a russian puupet

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    Mute Obama
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    Nov 25th 2019, 10:02 AM

    @Rónán Strain: sexism and racism ? It’s funny how he wasn’t known for any of those things until he ran as a Republican. Stop watching CNN and read up on actual information.

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    Mute Peter D W Clancy
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    Nov 25th 2019, 11:43 AM

    @Obama: Trump has always had a questionable character. He just used his presidential platform to let the world and all in the universe know all about what he really is.

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    Mute Carlin Ite
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    Nov 24th 2019, 3:49 PM

    The weekend Sanders takes poll position. The establishment are shaking.

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    Mute Joe Johnson
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    Nov 24th 2019, 4:09 PM

    @Carlin Ite: Do you have to be 77 to go for this job.

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    Mute Burn_the_Witch
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:07 PM

    @Carlin Ite: Sanders can be bought by the establishment. He’s already proven it by laying over on his back for Clinton in 2016.

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    Mute Rónán Strain
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:17 PM

    @Burn_the_Witch: Better than committing treason and being bought by Russia…

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    Mute D H
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:25 PM

    @Joe Johnson: at least…. Closer to 80 if possible

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    Mute kenneth clohessy
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    Nov 24th 2019, 8:28 PM

    @Rónán Strain: Sanders is a commie

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    Mute Rónán Strain
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    Nov 24th 2019, 9:11 PM

    @kenneth clohessy: He obviously isn’t but i suppose accuracy would not be something expected of your ilk

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    Mute Oonaghx
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    Nov 25th 2019, 12:55 AM

    @Rónán Strain: do you have proof of that Ronan? or are you just going to be repetitive with that nonsense?

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    Mute Gandelow
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    Nov 25th 2019, 6:34 AM

    @kenneth clohessy: so was Jesus if you apply that theory

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    Mute Rocky Rocks
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:27 PM

    Hopefully President Trump gets 4 more years.

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    Mute Al Fresco
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:48 PM

    @Rocky Rocks: 4 years in jail would be good for him.

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    Mute LynchTrea
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    Nov 24th 2019, 7:05 PM

    @Al Fresco: too good

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    Mute Declan Moran
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    Nov 24th 2019, 3:45 PM

    I really wish the Democrats had at least one candidate strong enough to depose the orange one. Instead of a crowded field of people whom don’t come across that great (I could be very wrong). A bit like Labour in England at the moment, missing a perfect opportunity to get rid of BOJO but Corbyn is just not good enough.

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    Mute Francis Tuffy
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:34 PM

    @Declan Moran: Yeah, although 11 candidates have dropped out, there’s still a whopping 14 in the running currently, they need to get down to 4 max., Biden, Warren, Bloomberg and Sanders maybe.

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    Mute Mjhint
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    Nov 24th 2019, 4:28 PM

    I’m doubtful that the American revolution envisaged these types of oligarchs running the USA particularly when they steal the American dream for those it was meant to liberate.

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    Mute Tim McCormack29
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:49 PM

    @Mjhint: yes. Israel loves Trump and they will love Bloomberg as one of their own even more.

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    Mute Stevie Doran
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    Nov 24th 2019, 4:36 PM

    Any candidates under 75 years old?

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Nov 24th 2019, 4:24 PM

    Time to feel the bern !!

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    Mute Angela McCarthy
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    Nov 24th 2019, 4:19 PM

    Bloomberg heading straight for Iceberg!

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    Mute WreckDefier
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    Nov 24th 2019, 4:38 PM

    Bloomberg, probably the worst candidate in the world

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    Mute Al Fresco
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:19 PM

    @WreckDefier: have you had a look at what else is out there? Trump is going to offer his disservices again, ” Anyone but Trump”

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    Mute Rónán Strain
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:43 PM

    @John Smith: if Moscow doesnt interfere this time, he doesnt stand a chance.

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    Mute Pádraig Healy
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    Nov 25th 2019, 8:00 PM

    @Rónán Strain: still peddling that hoax eh? You’re propping up a lot in these comment sections of late, are you being paid to post all these comments or are you just in need of some employment and have too much time on your hands?

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    Mute Edmund Murphy
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:37 PM

    If he wants an ego trip and to be loved by America he should just write every person living in America a cheque for $160. He would still be a billionare after. That’s how obscenely, immorally wealthy he is.

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    Mute bmul
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    Nov 24th 2019, 3:43 PM

    Self made

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    Mute Barry
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    Nov 24th 2019, 4:20 PM

    @bmul: he’s actually rich and is good at business unlike trump

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    Mute Mary Cull
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    Nov 24th 2019, 4:56 PM

    @Barry: He is deep state fighting back. The swamp will never be drained.

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    Mute Francis Tuffy
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:32 PM

    @Mary Cull: Jesus, if there was such a thing as an all-powerful ‘Deep State’, do you think they’d allow someone as out of control as Trump get elected?

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    Mute Rónán Strain
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:38 PM

    @Mary Cull: The deep state…….jaysus, Best for you to stay off the internet for a while i think:p

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    Mute Burn_the_Witch
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    Nov 24th 2019, 10:48 PM

    @Francis Tuffy: The ‘deep state’ is nothing new or not believable. It’s just a bunch of senior career civil servants spread out across the Government. The only reason you’re hearing about them now is because they’ve been fighting Trump tooth and nail for the past nearly four years. A bunch of bureaucrats pulling in the big bucks from where they shouldn’t, who don’t like an outsider getting in the way. Simples.

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    Mute Al Fresco
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:15 PM

    Anyone but Trump!

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    Mute Chris O'Sullivan
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    Nov 24th 2019, 9:18 PM

    For the man who has everything why not buy yourself a presidency this Christmas lol

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    Mute james r
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    Nov 24th 2019, 4:39 PM

    Way to old …

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    Mute Kevin Barry
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:17 PM

    Devon Nune’s cow is going to declare next Wednesday.

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    Mute Tim McCormack29
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:38 PM

    Wouldn’t trust another billionaire from New York to be President of the United States..

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    Mute Mel Fitzpatrick
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    Nov 24th 2019, 4:19 PM

    ABT

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    Mute Rory J Leonard
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    Nov 24th 2019, 9:13 PM

    It’s not too long ago that 70 + year olds were keen to take life easier, slow things down a little, do some fishing, play more golf, spend some time with the grand-kids, go on a cruise, even get ready, spiritually, for the next world.

    Not anymore, it seems! Pelosi, Biden, Clinton, Saunders, Trump, Ross, and now Bloomberg…all rearing to jump into/ stay in the political swamp for more punishment. No official retiring for these guys!

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    Mute CAMILA REMONA
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    Nov 24th 2019, 3:58 PM

    Well isn’t that blooming marvellous for him …

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    Mute John Smith
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    Nov 24th 2019, 7:50 PM

    What happened to the comments I wrote?

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    Mute Micheál
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    Nov 24th 2019, 7:00 PM

    Only a physical force communistic revolution of the working class will change the US, and hence the world.
    And it will happen!
    Ádh mór don lucht oibre!

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    Mute Cillian Leahy
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    Nov 25th 2019, 3:50 PM

    An easy reelection for Trump so

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