Auckland mumps outbreak little threat to Tauranga, say medics

Local health authorities say there is a minimal chance a mumps epidemic sweeping through Auckland will spread to the Bay.

An outbreak of mumps in Auckland has failed to spark concern from Bay of Plenty health authorities that the highly infectious illness could spread in Tauranga this Christmas.

There have been five confirmed mumps cases in Bay of Plenty residents this year, and one more case is under investigation awaiting laboratory results. Three of those confirmed cases have been notified since the start of September.

The cases come as concerns mount in Auckland, where more than 1000 people have caught mumps this year. The number of cases has almost doubled there since the start of October.

In a joint letter to the Ministry of Health, public health officials said the outbreak was now an epidemic because it could not be contained.

However, Toi Te Ora Public Health Organisation chief medical officer Dr Phil Shoemack said the threat of mumps spreading into the Bay of Plenty was minimal.

"The spread of the epidemic to other parts of the country could gather pace, but it hasn't happened so far.

"Over half of the cases nationally have been Pacific people and, in many instances, the individuals concerned either travelled to a Pacific Island nation him or herself during the incubation period, or a close relative or friend had.

"There are fewer Pacific people in the Bay of Plenty than most other parts of New Zealand, and that is likely to be one reason for the low number of cases reported here."

But Dr Shoemack said while there was a "much lower" risk of a Bay mumps outbreak, people still needed to take care and advised people to ensure they were up to date with their vaccines.

"All children should receive two doses of the Measles/Mumps/Rubella vaccine at 15 months and four years of age. Anyone under the age of 48 who has not had two doses of the MMR vaccine should contact their usual general practice and arrange to be vaccinated. Prior to the vaccine being introduced virtually everyone got the illness and so those older than 48 are likely to be immune."

All Blacks winger Rieko Ioane was among the Auckland residents diagnosed with the mumps this year.

The letter referring to the Auckland epidemic was signed by the chief executives of Auckland, Counties Manukau and Waitemata district health boards, and two senior Auckland Regional Public Health service officials, RNZ reported.

With current measures to contain the disease having little impact, a more high-profile vaccination campaign was needed, the officials said.

About 80 per cent of current cases were in people not immunised, including among a so-called "lost generation" of 10 to 29-year-olds with unusually low rates of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccination.

The Bay of Plenty District Health Board and Toi Te Ora supported the joint letter and the calls for a vaccination campaign, Dr Shoemack said.

"Yes, what is proposed for Auckland sounds like a useful plan."

What is mumps?

Mumps can cause painful swelling of the glands around the face and jaw, fever and headaches. The measles, mumps and rubella vaccination is free from doctors.

- Additional reporting NZ Herald/NZN