By Sarah Stone

Mumps the word, virus outbreak unlikely in PAPHR

Dec 18, 2014 | 5:55 AM

Just as Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby returned to the ice Wednesday, skating on his own before the team, the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region (PAPHR) said the chance of a mumps outbreak here is slim.

Crosby has missed the last three games after being diagnosed with the mumps and forward Beau Bennett is still recovering.  They are part of an outbreak of the virus that affected several players in the NHL.

The mumps is an infection that affects the parotid glands, which is caused by a virus.  These glands are located in a person’s cheeks and provide saliva.

“It is more of problem for children, especially young boys, because the gland structure to that that forms the testes, so what would happen is they can up having an infection of the testes and more often than not would end up being sterile,” said Dr. Khami Chokani, the medical health officer.

Adults who contract the mumps can still become sterile, he said, but it’s not as likely.

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So far in 2014, there have been no cases reported to the PAPHR.  In fact, according to Chokani, there have only been nine reported cases of the mumps in the province in the past decade.

“The thing is that because it’s so rare in Saskatchewan, because of the amount of immunizations we do have, it’s so hard to see and if it is seen it is usually in the early stages,” he said.

“There are a number other viruses that will look like you’ve got the mumps, but there are tests that can be done to confirm if it is mumps and more often than not, not all the tests are done and so the person is usually told ‘well you have the mumps’—well if they had their immunizations no, it’s not possible,” he added.

For those born after 1970, MMR shots were given in two doses, which are extremely effective.  He added that those who are starting school should have their MMR up-to-date to ensure an outbreak stops before it starts.

“We’re always asking.  Every time there is a contact and there is an opportunity especially for those who are below the age of 18 and it is one of the active things we do,” he said.

“It [containing an outbreak] would definitely be a challenge because it’s vaccine preventable and it’s all a matter of people taking their vaccines … what we do do, especially for health care workers, is we do make sure that they actually have their resistance against it, which we actually check on that.”

The mumps is spread through contact with saliva.

“Sharing drink bottles, kissing, if you’re in a contact sport [and] somebody’s mouth guard flies out and if two mouth guards are there on the ground, well if they look the same and you just say ‘well here, here’ [that could spread it].”

Currently, there is no cure for the mumps.  The only thing physicians can do is manage the pain and treat and infections that may occur as a result of the virus, Chokani said.

As always, he said it’s important to wash your hands and ensure your immunizations are up-to-date.

-With files from the Associated Press

sstone@panow.com

On Twitter: @sarahstone84