With 27 confirmed cases of mumps in the province so far this year, Alberta Health Services is urging people to be proactive.
In the past two years, Alberta has only had 12 cases, compared to the 27 reported so far this year.
“We do see mumps periodically from time to time when (the infection) is reintroduced into a population,” said Judy MacDonald, doctor with Alberta Health Services (AHS).
“We are trying to be proactive and reactive to the cases identified.”
Out of the 27 cases, only three were in the Calgary zone and 11 in the Southern zone of the province.
“The three confirmed cases in Calgary were not linked to a specific case,” said Bruce Conway, senior media relations adviser with AHS.
“If there was an outbreak and cases were linked, it would be identifiable and there would be a location.”
While there is no outbreak in the community, officials are still urging people who think they might have the infection to call Health Link at 8-1-1.
The contagious viral infection can be spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes near you or shares food or drinks with you.
Doctors are advising people not to share items that have been in someone else’s mouth.
An infected person can spread the virus seven days before and for nine days after symptoms start, “though it is most likely to spread one to two days before and five days after symptoms start showing,” according to AHS.
While mumps typically goes away on its own, some cases lead to serious complications that affect the brain, testicles, ovaries or pancreas.
The province offers free vaccines to children aged one and older. Officials recommend that by the age of six-years-old, Alberta residents should have received two doses of the vaccine and those born before 1970 are assumed to be immune due to the infection being extremely common.
Prevention tip? MacDonald said to wash your hands frequently, cover your coughs and sneezes, and if you are sick, stay at home.
For more information, go to albertahealthservices.ca.
Symptoms of mumps:
- swelling and pain in the glands of the jaw (one or both cheeks may look swollen)- pain chewing or swallowing - and/or swelling of the cheek Some people with mumps won't have gland swelling, and some may feel like they have a bad cold or influenza instead.
