By Alicia Draus

Mumps notification sent out to parents across the province

Feb 27, 2017 | 3:57 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Schools across the province are sending home information to parents about the mumps. The notice is especially important for School District 76, where cases have been confirmed.
 
Alberta Health Services has said that notices were sent out to all school jurisdictions mostly as a precaution. The notices inform parents about the disease and how it spreads, but also note that it can be easily prevented with a vaccine.
 
However, the notices are slightly different in Medicine Hat. Last week, nine cases of mumps were confirmed, all of which came from the Medicine Hat Tigers. Some of the players attend Medicine Hat High School, so other students could also have been exposed.
 
“We’re still in the incubation period, so the time sombebody is exposed to somebody with the disease until they develop symptoms is anywhere from 12 days to 25 days,” said Dr. Vivian Suttorp, lead medical officer of health for the south zone. “So we’re in the time period where we may start seeing secondary cases in the Medicine Hat area.”
 
Parents are encouraged to watch for symptoms including swollen glands, fever, headache, muscle aches and weakness and fatigue.
 
Mumps is mainly spread through drops of saliva, and can be contracted by sharing food and drinks or being coughed or sneezed on.
 
According to AHS, the immunization rate for the city is about 89 per cent and it’s those who are not immunized that are most at risk.
 
An outbreak of the disease would not cause the school to shut down but SD 76 superintendent Mark Davidson said they monitoring the situation and taking precautions to help prevent the spread by cleaning and disinfecting surface areas in schools.
 
“The presence of anything in the school where lots of people come together is something we’re concerned about,” said Davidson. “The precautions that are outlined in the documents that the medical officer of health had us share gives us really good ideas how to protect ourselves, students and staff.
 
Anyone who shows signs of mumps is encouraged to call Health Link or go to their family doctor. The disease usually goes away itself within 10 days, but it can in some cases it can be more serious.