SOUTH Africa is facing another viral disease outbreak, this time it’s mumps.
According to the National Institution of Communication Diseases (NICD), there has been an unexpected rise in positive cases of mumps recorded in KZN, Mpumalanga and Gauteng, accounting for the majority.
This comes nearly two days after NICD recorded increased malaria cases in the common provinces and Gauteng.
As a call for concern, NICD has advised the public to consider a combination of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
“To limit transmission during an outbreak, in countries where mumps vaccination is universally available, public health authorities may recommend an additional dose of the combination measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine for people who belong to groups at increased risk for getting mumps,” the institution said.
NICD said these groups are usually those likely to have close contact, such as sharing sport equipment or drinks, kissing, or living with someone with mumps.
ALSO READ | Blind student sees her bright future!
While MMR vaccine as an intervention is not universally available in South Africa, NICD has advised those affected to seek advice from their local healthcare providers.
According to the institution, mumps is an acute viral infection caused by the rubulavirus, also known as mumps virus.
“It is sometimes called ‘infectious parotitis’, as it causes painful swelling of the parotid and or salivary glands.
“Mumps is generally a mild childhood disease, mostly affecting children between five and nine years of age. However, younger and older children, as well as adults, can become infected with mumps.
“People who have had mumps are usually protected for life against another mumps infection. However, second occurrences of mumps do rarely occur,” NICD said.
