There had been 11 confirmed cases of mumps in the Northern Regional Health Authority (NRHA) as of March 29, including six in Thompson, as the total number of cases in Manitoba between Sept. 1 of last year and March 23 reached 238, up from about 125 in late January when mumps was first confirmed in the north.
Most of the people contracting mumps initially were under 30 years old, with a particular concentration among people in Winnipeg aged 18 to 29, but Manitoba Health says cases are now being seen in all age groups and throughout the province.
NRHA medical officer of health Dr. Michael Isaac told the Thompson Citizen in January when the first northern cases were confirmed that the province normally sees around two to 10 cases per year.
There is no treatment for the mumps apart from those typically used in cases of colds and the flu - fluids, rest and Tylenol for fever. The symptoms usually include fever, a cough and swollen salivary glands from the jaw up to underneath the ears. Some people with the virus won’t show all or any of the symptoms, though they may still be passing the virus along. Mumps spreads through contact with saliva, which can come about through kissing, sharing drinks or utensils, or from respiratory droplets spread via coughing or sneezing. Secondary infections or complications are rare, but can include testicular swelling in men, which does have the potential to lead to sterility in rare cases.
Isaac said in January that stopping the spread of the disease is difficult because people are infectious before symptoms appear, but that those who do develop mumps can help prevent its spread by isolating themselves from others, not going to work or school and practising good hand hygiene.
