Parents in WA’s north put on mumps alert

Parents have been put on alert as students at Hedland Senior High School were exposed to mumps late last month.

In a report sent out by WA Country Health Service, students may have been exposed to the disease on Thursday August 24, Friday August 25 and Monday August 28.

Mumps is an acute viral illness which causes swelling of the parotid glands, located in front of the ear, and lasts a week after swelling starts.

Symptoms include headaches, fever and cough prior to swelling on one or both sides of the face with earaches and painful feeling when opening the jaw.

While complications are rare, students who have contracted the disease may be at risk of painful swollen testicles pneumonia, meningitis, encephalitis or deafness.

WACHS advises that if a child is unwell for parents not to send them to school and limit interaction with others, seek medical assistance and call a general practitioner prior to arrival due to the contagious nature of the disease.

If a child has already contracted the disease a booster vaccination will not prevent them getting mumps, however WACHS does advise booster vaccinations to protect others from infection and for close contacts to seek booster MMR vaccinations.

For more information, contact your local GP or WACHS on 9174 1600