Students warned of meningitis fears after mumps increase (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Students warned of meningitis fears after mumps increase

3:02pm Thursday 13th November 2008

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WITH an increase in the number of cases of mumps at the University of Gloucestershire, a national charity is warning students that the mumps virus can also cause meningitis.

Meningitis Research Foundation says the viral forms of meningitis, although not usually life threatening, can be serious.

Before the MMR vaccine was introduced, mumps was the main cause of viral meningitis. The majority of the 1,200 people hospitalised each year with mumps in the UK had meningitis.

The best defence against mumps meningitis, the charity says, is immunisation with MMR vaccine. Many university students missed out on MMR vaccine as it was not available before 1988.

For more information call Meningitis Research Foundation's Freefone 24-hour helpline on 080 8800 3344.

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