Over the past couple of weeks, Toronto Public Health has warned the public about an outbreak of mumps. Around two weeks ago, there was an article released possibly linking this outbreak to downtown Toronto bars.
Toronto Public Health connected the outbreak to the vibrant Toronto nightlife because 14 cases of the disease have been confirmed, and many of those who were confirmed had frequented bars in the west downtown core of Toronto. Mumps, being contagious, can circulate through coughing, sneezing, kissing, sharing drinks, utensils, food, or even water bottles. Crowded environments can contribute to an outbreak, as it can become exposed to many people simultaneously.
TPH has also released how to identify symptoms of the virus, which include: swelling and pain in salivary glands in the cheeks and jaw; fever; headache; muscle aches and pains; fatigue; and loss of appetite. These can last up to 10 days.
On March 6, 2017 the Star published an article stating the TDSB confirmed that one student attending Forest Hill Collegiate has a confirmed case of the mumps. This has brought the confirmed cases to 26 in the city of Toronto. It was brought to the school's attention on Thursday, which prompted the principal to send a note home with students reminding parents to check their child's vaccination history, making sure that they are up to date with them.
The confirmed outbreak of 26 infected with the mumps in Toronto is significantly higher than the city's average cases per year, which sits at 4. Toronto is not the only place experiencing an outbreak, Manitoba is also experiencing an outbreak of 184 confirmed cases, spanning from September 1st to March 2nd.
The official release by Toronto Public Health can be found here, which provides a detailed description of the virus, how it is spread, and what precautions can be taken by the public to help limit the outbreak in the city. They also provide a fact sheet answering FAQs, which is also available in PDF form, here.
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