(February 7, 2018) The Northwestern Health Unit would like to notify families that they have received confirmed reports of mumps in communities around the region. Mumps is a virus that is spread through contact with saliva from an infected person. It is easily spread by talking, coughing or sneezing. There is no treatment for mumps. The disease causes several days of illness and sometimes serious complications.
Your child is due for their Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine if they are between 4 - 6 years of age. Please check your child's immunization record to ensure that they are up to date on vaccinations. The Northwestern Health Unit is currently holding school clinics throughout the region to immunize students. If your child has missed the clinic or has not received a consent form please contact the Northwestern Health Unit in your area.
The current adult recommendation for the Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine is 2 doses. People born between 1970 to 1992 likely have only received 1 dose of the vaccine. Please check your immunization record to ensure that you have received both doses of the vaccination. Please contact the Northwestern Health Unit to schedule an appointment to update your immunization.
| Kenora Northwestern Health Unit |
Red Lake Northwestern Health Unit |
| (807) 468-3147 |
(807) 727-2626 |
If you think your child may have mumps you can call Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000.
This information was supplied by the Northwestern Health Unit. For the full media release please click Cases of mumps in the region.