Three confirmed mumps cases in Halifax-area

The Nova Scotia Health Authority says there are three confirmed cases of mumps in the Halifax region, two at Dalhousie University.

Locum medical officer of health for NSHA’s central zone, Dr. Lisa Freeman, said they don't know how, or if at all, the cases are linked, but they are still investigating.

She said symptoms, including swollen glands in the jaw, fever, headache, sore throat and aching muscles, typically start a couple of weeks after exposure to the virus, and last about 10 days.

For some, more severe symptoms can occur, like a severe headache, stiff neck, painful or swollen testicles, or severe abdominal pain. In rare cases, it can lead to meningitis, swelling of the ovaries, inflammation of the pancreas, and short-term or permanent hearing loss. 

Mumps can also be serious for pregnant women, who can be at risk of miscarriage, premature or early labour, and low birth weight babies.

There's no treatment, so people are usually asked to stay home for 5 days to allow the body to fight it off. 

The viral illness is spread through nasal and oral secretions.

“That means through sneezing, coughing, sharing food, drinks or cigarettes,” Freeman explained.

Because it's not an airborne virus, it would likely only be spread to those in close contact with someone who has mumps, like a romantic partner, and the best way to lower the risk of infection is to get a vaccination.

Freeman said the measles-mumps-rubella, or for children now, the measles-mumps-rubella-varicella immunization, is part of the routine schedule in Nova Scotia and is free to anyone with a health card.

“We started giving the second vaccine in 1996, if people were born before that, they may have only had one dose of vaccine, and two doses is most protective and what we recommend people have,” she said.

Freeman recommends checking vaccination records for that second dose.

Anyone experiencing symptoms should contact a health care provider, a doctor can diagnose mumps with an exam and lab tests.