Mumps Outbreaks in The 2000s - Canada (April 2007, August 2008)

Canada (April 2007, August 2008)

Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Dalhousie University was struck with an outbreak of the mumps confirmed in many students with suspected cases in dozens of others. The main causes of the large outbreak include students being unaware of being infected, and other students who knowingly ignored quarantine restrictions. The outbreak began after St. Patrick's Day, and has spread beyond the university community, with confirmed cases reaching 350 cases of mumps since February, including about 24 new cases that have surfaced during the week ending June 9, 2007. The end of the university year in May meant that many students travelled to their homes across the country carrying the infection, leading to a large scale spread, the extent of which is still not clear, although the prevalence of the disease lay in people aged 17 to 24. Roughly 50 personnel of the Halifax-based navy ship HMCS Glace Bay were sent home as a precaution. Reported outbreaks have begun in New Brunswick (Approximately 100 cases), Prince Edward Island (2 cases), Ontario (3 cases confirmed, 5 suspected), West Coast of Newfoundland (2 cases), and Toronto (3 cases). On October 3, 2007, a new case was reported at Nipissing University/Canadore College, in North Bay, Ontario. On October 26, four additional cases were reported in Alberta at the University of Lethbridge and Lethbridge College; By October 30, this had expanded to 5 confirmed. As of Nov. 16 there have been a total of 54 cases in Alberta. As of Nov. 29 there have been 57 confirmed cases in Calgary Alberta, six at the University of Calgary as well as outbreaks at SAIT Polytechnic and Mount Royal College. A vaccination program is currently being undertaken to re-immunize all students in post-secondary by the Calgary Health Region. Vaccinations are also occurring at universities in Edmonton. As of December 11, 2007 the Alberta government has suspended its inoculation program after several people suffered severe allergic reactions.

In late August, 2008, a mumps outbreak was reported in Agassiz, spreading westward into Vancouver.

In September 2008, a single confirmed case of the mumps occurred in London, Ontario. The individual was a student of Fanshawe College.

In June 2010, a single confirmed case of the mumps occurred in Vancouver, BC. In March 2011, a few cases of mumps in Whistler, BC.