Mumps

Toi Te Ora Public Health PO Box 2120 TAURANGA Ph: 0800 221 555 www.toiteora.govt.nz 20 July 2020

Dear staff and students at Rotorua Lakes High School I write to inform you that a person at your school has recently been diagnosed with mumps.

This letter contains important information about mumps and actions to take to help reduce the risk of getting mumps or mumps spreading.

What is mumps?

Mumps is an infection caused by a virus affecting the saliva glands in the lower cheek area.

Symptoms can include a fever, headache and swelling over the cheek or jaw, on one or both sides of the face. It is usually a mild illness that lasts about one week but can, on rare occasions, have serious complications.

Mumps is spread from person to person by coughing and sneezing. Symptoms take two to three weeks to appear after contact with an infected person.

The vaccine that protects against mumps is the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine.

It is a routine childhood vaccination in New Zealand. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are required. Immunisation with both doses of MMR vaccine is about 90% effective in preventing mumps. It is free for anyone who needs it.

Preventing the spread of mumps To help prevent more cases, we request that you read and follow this advice: ▪

If you were born before 1981 or have previously had mumps, you are considered immune and unlikely to get mumps.

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If you have previously had two doses of MMR vaccination, you are considered immune and unlikely to get mumps.

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If you have not had both doses of the MMR vaccination (or are not sure) and were born after 1981, you are potentially at risk of getting mumps. MMR immunisation is recommended for you. Please visit your GP (family doctor) to receive your free MMR vaccination.

Please note: Vaccination now may not prevent you from getting mumps if you have already been exposed and are already incubating the illness. However, if you have not yet been exposed it will reduce your risk of getting mumps if there are more cases of mumps and you are exposed again.

The routine childhood immunisations given in Fiji and Tonga (and some other Pacific Island Countries) do not include mumps vaccination. If you grew up in a Pacific Island Country, or other country that may not have had routine mumps vaccination, and cannot establish whether you received two MMR doses, I would recommend MMR vaccination now for you.

If there are any health reasons why you may be at more risk or that mean you cannot have the MMR vaccine (such as having decreased immunity or being pregnant) please contact your GP (family doctor) for advice.

Other advice: • It is important to maintain good hand hygiene (regularly washing and drying your hands thoroughly, particularly before you prepare or eat food); cough and sneeze etiquette (coughing and sneezing into your elbow, or covering your mouth and nose with a tissue, disposing of tissues after use, then washing and drying your hands thoroughly); and avoid sharing foods, drinks and utensils with others.

• Please be vigilant and look out for symptoms of mumps. Anyone who has any symptoms that may be mumps should immediately; ▪ stay away from work or school ▪ stay away from group gatherings ▪ avoid contact with anyone who is not immune AND call their GP (family doctor) or Healthline (0800 611 116) for further advice.

For more information about mumps, please see: https://www.ttophs.govt.nz/mumps_public If you have any queries about this letter or want more advice, you may contact our Communicable Disease Nurse on 0800 221 555.

Kind regards,

Dr Neil de Wet Medical Officer of Health Bay of Plenty and Lakes District Health Boards