The province’s acting chief medical officer of health is reminding people about the importance of ensuring their vaccinations are up to date. Dr. Jennifer Russell said two cases of mumps have been confirmed in New Brunswick, along with an outbreak of whooping cough.
“Certainly right now is the time to get checked to see if your vaccines are up to date for yourself and for your children,” Russell said.
READ MORE: 3 more mumps cases confirmed in Edmonton; Alberta total rises to 21
Russell said it’s “concerning” to have mumps in the province.
According to the New Brunswick Department of Health’s Routine Immunization Schedule, adults born after 1970 should have a second booster vaccine to ensure they are protected.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about mumps and why it’s making a comeback
“When we have a disease that has a vaccine that allows you to prevent it, we want people to get those vaccines because it’s really, really important not just for their own health or for their children’s health, but also for the health of the people around them who either can’t get immunized or maybe the immunization didn’t quite work as well for them,” Russell said.
READ MORE: Western Hockey League tries to minimize spread of mumps as AHS warns of outbreak
She said the more people get vaccinated, the safer everyone is in New Brunswick.
“We’re seeing mumps in people who have had their two doses of vaccines. So that’s very concerning,” Russell said. “We can’t really explain it. We know that it can happen. We know that with each type of vaccine there is a teeny-tiny small percentage of people who may not be completely protected.”
Russell said the vaccine, referred to as “MMRV,” that protects against mumps was introduced in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Since then, Russell said, there has been a 99 percent decrease in cases of mumps, although there can be “outbreaks from time-to-time.”
She said she could not disclose any further information about the two current cases of mumps, such as the age or location of the patients.
READ MORE: Why the NHL locker room is the perfect catalyst for a mumps outbreak
“I’m not able to disclose any demographic information at this time, but just to say that we do have two cases right now and they are connected; there was some contact,” Russell said.
Complications from mumps can include meningitis, swollen testicles, and permanent deafness.
Russell said there are no current cases of measles in New Brunswick, but said it’s something that can appear from occasionally in the province.
- ‘Super lice’ are becoming more resistant to chemical shampoos. What to use instead
- Solar eclipse eye damage: More than 160 cases reported in Ontario, Quebec
- Invasive strep: ‘Don’t wait’ to seek care, N.S. woman warns on long road to recovery
- Canadian man dies during Texas Ironman event. His widow wants answers as to why
New Brunswickers are encouraged to check with their health care provider or contact public health offices for more information on whether they need to update their vaccinations.
Concern over whooping cough outbreak
Dr. Russell said there is a current pertussis outbreak, more commonly known as whooping cough, in the Fredericton region.
She told Global News the regional medical officer of health will be sending out a note to health care providers.
READ MORE: Number of whooping cough cases on the rise in Saskatchewan
Russell said there is a whooping cough vaccination given to children, but noted adults also require a booster shot.
She said there can be complications from whooping cough that could result in death.
Comments