Health warnings are issued after rise in mumps cases

Public health officials from Tyneside to North Yorkshire have seen a steady rise in cases of the infection in recent months.

Now, GPs on Teesside are on alert after four cases were confirmed this year.

Experts are worried because last year, there were only seven confirmed cases.

Dr Ian Holtby, consultant in communicable disease control at County Durham and Teesside Strategic Health Authority, said: "It is a cause for concern. We have had quite a few confirmed cases of mumps, mostly in teenagers. This shows that mumps is circulating."

GPs in other parts of the region said they had recently seen cases of mumps or suspected mumps.

The increase raises concerns about falling rates of immunisation.

This follows controversy over the safety of the triple mumps, measles and rubella vaccine (MMR), which has been associated with autism.

Experts in the region stress that the triple vaccine is a safe and effective way to protect children against unpleasant and potentially harmful infections.

The outbreak is mostly in teenagers who missed innoculations when younger.

But with MMR take-up rates in some parts of the region well below the 95 per cent target, doctors fear that many young children may be affected.

In most cases, children will suffer painful facial swelling, which will disappear after seven to ten days.

But in a small minority of cases, this can cause temporary or partial deafness and swollen testicles in older boys.

Dr Holtby urged parents of young children to ensure that they receive the MMR vaccine.

Dr Nicol Black, consultant in communicable disease control at Northumberland, Newcastle and North Tyneside Strategic Health Authority said: "We are seeing more cases of mumps than normal."

Dr Black said the numbers were still small, but higher than expected.

"The key message here is that the MMR vaccine is safe and it is the best way to protect children," he said.

Dr John Canning, a GP in Middlesbrough, said he saw a mumps case a few days ago.