Surgeries across the East Midlands are reporting big increases in cases of mumps, particularly in young people in their late teens and early twenties. In 2000, there were just four confirmed cases but after two years of slight rises that figure jumped to 66 in 2003. Health professionals said part of the cause is that many of today's young adults missed out on both the MMR jab and being naturally exposed to the bug.
It can lead to swelling of the brain and it can affect fertility in men.
Large outbreaks
Symptoms are a high fever, sore throat and painful swelling of the salivary glands.
Dr Richard Slack, a consultant in communicable diseases for the Nottinghamshire area, said: "The group of people (most affected) are young adolescents and young adults who have not got the protection of the MMR vaccine which was introduced in 1988.
"So they have missed that and mumps has really been a scarce disease in the last 10 years or so, so they wouldn't have caught it naturally to develop their protection when they were young.
He added: "In some parts of the region there have been quite large outbreaks so I think its important we cover this age group with the MMR vaccine."
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