Nearly 400 cases of mumps have been reported this year, HSE figures have shown.
There were 64 new cases reported last week, bringing the total to 384 since the start of the year. The number of cases has been rising steadily in recent weeks, with 278 in the first six weeks of the year. Last year there had been 52 cases by the end of February. There were 576 cases in total last year.
Symptoms of mumps include fever, headache, tiredness and swollen, tender salivary glands. Complications, which can include meningitis and inflammation of the brain, can be fatal.
People are contagious for four to five days before symptoms appear, which prevents the virus from being contained. Mumps can be prevented with two doses of