Ireland is officially in the middle of a mumps outbreak as the number of reported cases has increased by a massive 650% in the space of a year.
So far this year there has already been 451 cases, compared with just 60 in the same period in 2018.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) confirmed the outbreak on their website, noting that teenagers aged 15 to 19 and adults aged 20 to 24 were the most commonly affected.
20 people have been hospitalised with mumps so far this year, with 10 different outbreaks confirmed in schools, universities and communities around the country, including one at Trinity College Dublin.
The HPSC notes that symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness and swollen, tender salivary glands, and often gives the appearance of swollen cheeks or jaw.
If you have mumps symptoms you should stay at home, not go to school or work and phone your GP and explain that you may have mumps.
They also urged people to ensure they are up to date with their vaccinations as the best protection against mumps is to be fully vaccinated with two doses of the MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella) vaccine.
The HSE also notes that complications can include viral meningitis and pancreatitis, so it’s important to get yourself to a doctor if you think you might have mumps.
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