By Matt Nemeth

12 local mumps cases ‘tip of the iceberg’ says AHS

Mar 9, 2017 | 3:17 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The South Zone now has 12 confirmed cases of the mumps and Alberta Health Services is saying it’s most likely just the “tip of the iceberg” when it comes to the current outbreak in the province.

In total there have been 33 cases of the virus across Alberta in 2017, most of them centred around Medicine Hat and Edmonton.

According to South Zone Medical Officer of Health Dr. Vivien Suttorp 11 of the 12 cases in our area are linked to the Medicine Hat Tigers. She adds the fact there’s a case not connected to the team shows there are more infected people here than the current numbers suggest.

“It’s always a concern when we have a new case in an area that has no travel history,” said Suttorp over the phone from Lethbridge Thursday. “When there’s no travel history and people are picking it up just in Medicine Hat — and not knowing where it’s from — then we know that there’s more spread (of the virus) than we’re actually aware of.”

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Complicating matters is the under reporting of the disease, as Suttorp says 30 per cent of those who contract the mumps don’t have or show any symptoms of the contagious viral infection.

No deaths have been linked to the current outbreak and AHS is recommending that people check to make sure their immunizations are up to date, as the MMR and MMRV vaccines are the only way to prevent someone from getting infected.