Health officials weigh re-vaccination campaign for mumps

The province of Nova Scotia and the Public Health Agency of Canada are looking at re-immunizing people against mumps.

Nova Scotia has experienced 203 cases of mumps since February,including about 50 new cases that have surfaced sincelast week, public health officials said Friday. New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island have also reported cases, mainly among young adults in their 20s. Half a dozen cases of mumps have spread as far as Ontario.

Mumps is a highly infectious disease that is spread by coughing, sneezing, sharing drinks or kissing. Many of the cases spreadthrough downtown bars in Halifax and on the campus of Dalhousie University, health officials said.

Since exams wrapped up about two weeks ago, most students have left campus and the disease seems to be receding, said Marla Cranston, a Dalhousie spokeswoman.

The province is talking about a new immunization program for university-aged students and health-care workers, said Dr. Shelly Sarwal, a medical officer of health with the Nova Scotia health department.

"Right now, we're going to start discussion with the universities and the district health authorities to figure out how to make this happen," Sarwal said, adding plans should be in place by next week.

If the outbreak is similar to those in recent years in the United States and Britain, it will take months for the number of cases to drop, Sarwal said.

Booster shots

People born between 1970 and 1992 are at particular risk for mumps. They were immunized against measles, mumps and rubella once, but may need a second dose of mumps vaccine.

At a national level, there is a lot of discussion about the option of giving booster shots for that age group, said Dr. Robert Strang,Nova Scotia'smedical officer of health.

The Public Health Agency of Canada is also studying whether a national re-immunization campaign is needed.

In another development, a Halifax nursing student has put herself in voluntary isolation for more than two weeks.

Amy Doolittle, who believes she was exposed to a case of the mumps, is showing none of the usual symptoms such as fever, aches and pains, and swollen or tender salivary glands. Nevertheless, doctors have strongly suggested she stay isolated from people at school and her family.

Doolittle, who happens to be studying infectious diseases, said she will be relieved when the outbreak passes.