The Health Protection Agency is a public body which monitors and issues advice on health threats across the UK, and advises organisations such as the NHS

The Health Protection Agency, which advises organisations such as the NHS on health matters, has issued a Mumps advisory after noting an increase in the virus in the Hampshire area.

The agency today issued the following statement:

"General increase in mumps in South-East Hampshire

The [Health Protection Unit] has observed an increase in mumps in South-East Hampshire since the beginning of the year.

Mumps is an acute viral illness transmitted by direct contact with saliva or droplets from the saliva of an infected person. Humans are the only known host of the mumps virus.

The incubation period is 14-21 days and mumps is transmissible from several days before the parotid/neck swelling to several days after it appears.

Symptoms begin with a headache and fever for a day or two before the onset of classic swelling of the parotid glands in the neck: the swelling may be unilateral (one side) or bilateral (both sides).

Some cases may have no parotid gland/neck swelling but may develop symptoms elsewhere.

Other symptoms ... include swelling of the ovaries (oophoritis), swelling of the testes (orchitis), aseptic meningitis and deafness.

Despite common belief there is no firm evidence that orchitis causes sterility.

Mumps was the commonest cause of viral meningitis in children prior to 1988, when vaccine was introduced.

Contagiousness is similar to that of influenza and rubella, but not as infectious as chickenpox or measles. Exposed individuals should be considered infectious from 12 to 25 days after exposure.

Prevention

Mumps vaccine is one of the components of MMR vaccine. MMR is given in the national immunisation programme at 12-15 months and at 4 years of age. There is no upper age limit [so people of all ages may have the vaccine] ... two doses are required, and can be given separated by at least a one month interval.

Individuals who were born between 1980 and 1990 may not be protected against mumps but are likely to be vaccinated against measles and rubella. They may have never received a mumps-containing vaccine or had only one dose of MMR and may not have been exposed to natural mumps.

They can book in to see their GP and request MMR vaccine. If this is their first dose, a further dose of MMR should be given from one month later.

More information

Further information is available from the Health Protection Agency, and on the University's Mumps advice page.