Update on mumps in Toronto

    TORONTO, May 15 /CNW/ - Today Toronto Public Health released information
on three cases of mumps in Toronto linked to the recent outbreak among
students from Eastern Canada. Two of these individuals are students who
returned to Toronto from University in Halifax, where the mumps outbreak has
been ongoing since January. The third case is a close contact of one of the
two university students. This individual was at a downtown restaurant for
several hours while infectious with mumps, and may have unknowingly spread the
mumps virus to others.
    "We are asking anyone who was at Supermarket Restaurant and Bar at 268
Augusta Avenue last Thursday evening, May 10, between the hours of 9 p.m. and
3 a.m. to watch for signs and symptoms of the mumps," said Dr. Barbara Yaffe,
Associate Medical Officer of Health and Director of Communicable Disease
Control.
    Toronto Public Health investigators have been unable to identify all of
the individuals who shared drinks or cigarettes with this ill person to inform
them of their potential exposure to mumps.
    The mumps virus is most commonly found in saliva. It is often transmitted
when an infected person passes saliva to another by sharing drinks, food,
cigarettes or kissing, or by coughing and sneezing.
    Signs and symptoms include; swelling and pain in one or more salivary
glands (sides of the cheeks), fever, headache, muscle aches and pains, fatigue
and loss of appetite.
    Most people who get the mumps recover fully within two weeks. Serious
illness associated with the mumps is rare. In very rare cases it can cause
encephalitis, meningitis, and orchitis (inflammation of the lining of the
testicles) in men. Pregnant women who become infected with mumps during the
first three months of pregnancy are at risk of miscarriage.
    Keep in mind that most adults born before 1970 have likely had mumps
infection and are likely immune. Mumps in Toronto is rare, with an average of
five cases reported per year over the last 10 years (1997-2006).
    Most children born after 1990 have received two doses of measles, mumps,
rubella (MMR) vaccine. Two doses normally provides life long immunity. The
National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends that students and
health care workers should get a second dose of MMR vaccine.
    However, if you were born in Ontario after 1970, or before 1990, you
likely received only one dose of mumps vaccine.
    "Because of the outbreak among this age group in the East Coast, Toronto
Public Health is also asking all students, who have returned to Toronto from
the East Coast to watch for signs and symptoms of mumps," said Dr. Yaffe.
    These students should check their immunization status, and consider
getting a booster shot if they received only one dose of MMR. For information
on the vaccine, call Toronto Public Health at 416-338-7600.
    For more information, and for a Fact Sheet on mumps, visit:
www.toronto.ca/health.

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to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It is the economic engine
of Canada and one of the greenest and most creative cities in North America.
In the past three years Toronto has won more than 50 awards for quality and
innovation in delivering public services. Toronto's government is dedicated to
prosperity, opportunity and liveability for all its residents.

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For further information: Media contact: Rishma Govani, Media Relations,
Toronto Public Health, (416) 338-7974