Mumps and measles on the rise
Cases of mumps and measles are on the rise in Ireland, according to new figures from the Meningitis Research Foundation.
Cases of people in Ireland contracting mumps and measles have risen significantly in 2008 compared with previous years, according to a new infectious disease report from the health protection surveillance centre.
The report shows that 403 cases of mumps have been reported so far this year - that's an increase of almost six times on this time last year, when only 72 cases had been reported.
There have also been 32 cases of measles reported, compared to 25 in the same period last year.
The Meningitis Research Foundation is attributing the increase to the low levels of people opting to get the MMR vaccine in recent years.
The foundation is today urging people to take the vaccine, to prevent an upsurge in cases of both diseases, which are often more severe than other forms of viral meningitis.
500 million doses of the MMR vaccine have been administered in 90 countries since it was introduced twenty years ago.
