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March 31, 2003

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"School Mumps Outbreak Warning"

This is Lancashire(03/27/03)

Three students at Turton High School in Bolton, England, have been confirmed as having mumps, and three more cases are suspected, according to health officials there.  The students are either too old to have received the second MMR injection as children, or they were born before the vaccine was first introduced.  The situation has prompted health officials to initiate a voluntary MMR immunization program for hundreds of Turton students.  Though usually a mild and self-limited viral infection that causes swelling of the salivary glands, mumps can sometimes cause critical complications such as meningitis infections, or result in deafness or sterility.  Normally, two doses of the MMR vaccine are recommended to ensure protection against measles, mumps and rubella because some children vaccinated once may not be completely protected.

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