Urgent response needed on mumps outbreak

10 December 2019

Labour Party Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD, has said an urgent response is needed to the large scale outbreak of the mumps.

Deputy Kelly said:

“So far in 2019, we have seen a 436% increase in reported cases of the mumps, with 2,458 cases reported so far this year compared to 563 cases in 2018.

“There has been an explosion in the number of mumps cases in recent months, affecting children and students. For young men in particular, there are very serious health consequences associated with mumps and the recent rise in these case must be addressed immediately.

“This sharp rise in cases is said to be a consequence of bogus claims about the vaccine many years ago. This is concrete evidence of how damaging spreading bogus and inaccurate information about vaccines actually is.

“The numbers in Dublin alone show there is obviously a need for an awareness campaign to promote MMR and the need for vaccination.

“I am calling on the Minister to implement a public awareness campaign about mumps and the need for vaccination.

“We also just develop a strategy with the involvement of GPs and the HSE to raise the levels of MMR vaccination.”

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