Nova Scotia is experiencing a mumps outbreak since mid-March. At least 120 cases of mumps have been reported.
Apparently, our mumps vaccine is not as effective as we believed. Between 1989 and 2006 only 73 cases of mumps were reported in Nova Scotia. However, in the past two weeks, at least 50 new cases of mumps were being investigated.
The current outbreak is affecting young adults 20 to 25 years of age: many of those affected are university students. Health officials are considering launching a vaccination campaign for individuals in this age group.
Signage has appeared in local hospitals asking visitors who have been exposed to people with mumps not to visit patients as a measure to avoid spread of the viral infection in the hospital environment.
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