Dr. Hoffman vs. the Mosquito

Single Mumps Vaccine Banned

A single mumps vaccine given to thousands of children whose parents have shunned the controversial MMR jab was banned in Britain.

Officials have banned imports of the Pavivac jab from the Czech Republic amid concerns the vaccine is grown on dogs' kidneys.

The Committee on Safety of Medicines said there was not enough information to offer firm assurances over the safety, quality or efficacy of Pavivac, manufactured by Czech firm Sevapharma.

Clinics offering single jabs as an alternative to MMR accused the Government of 'scaremongering'.

The Department of Health has denied claims there is a link between MMR and bowel disease and autism. It refuses to provide single jabs on the NHS.

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Crosby Out With Mumps; Pens Being Cautious

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will be out at least one more game while he recovers from the mumps. He is being quarantined in isolation for a five-day period, per the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations.

Crosby, who missed the team's two games over the weekend, is still being evaluated daily.

"It came about as a bit of a surprise to us," head team physician Dr. Dharmesh Vyas said Sunday afternoon. "Every indication was that he was well protected against the disease."

Crosby was given immunization and given a booster shot prior to leaving for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia in February. He was also given immunization two weeks ago, along with the entire team, due to the outbreak of mumps in the NHL.

Crosby suffered an injury to his salivary gland Nov. 29 against Carolina. He was given medication for the swelling (Dr. Vyas does not believe the injury and the mumps diagnosis are related). When the medication was stopped, the right side of his face swelled up. Crosby was held out of practice Thursday and tested again for mumps. Those test results came back negative.

Crosby rejoined the team Friday morning for their game day skate and planned on playing that night.

"That decision was approved (by the medical staff) that he could (skate Friday)," Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford said.

However, the swelling worsened after the skate. Though he wasn't showing any other symptoms typical of the mumps such as fever, chills or body aches, the Pens sent Crosby's DNA to the CDC for further testing and held him out of the weekend's back-to-back games as a precaution.

"His condition worsened from (Thursday)," Vyas said. "As soon as we noted that, that's when we sent off additional samples."

The CDC test results came back Saturday evening positive for mumps.

"This is a rapidly evolving process," Vyas said. "We try to do as much testing as possible and try to stay ahead of it with all the different tests that are available to us."

The team will monitor Crosby's teammates and other Pens staff. If any of them develop symptoms – fever, chills, body aches, malaise, difficulty swallowing – they'll be tested.

"We'll continue to maintain a high level of vigilance on this," Vyas said.

Illness Timeline

Pre-Winter Olympics, 2014

Crosby is given immunization and a booster shot to protect against diseases, including the mumps, prior to leaving for Sochi, Russia.

Nov. 24-28

Entire Penguins team was immunized and tested for mumps as an outbreak continues to grow in the NHL.

Nov. 29 vs. Carolina

Crosby suffered an injury to the right side of his neck – the salivary gland. He was tested with a CT scan and for mumps. All blood tests came back negative. Was given medication to bring swelling down.

Dec. 10-11

When medication for the salivary gland was stopped, Crosby developed swelling next to the injured area. Another series of tests, including mumps, were conducted. The tests showed no indication of an infection.

Crosby showed no symptoms of mumps such as fever, chills or generalized body aches.

Dec. 12 vs. Calgary

Crosby's swelling and condition worsened. Crosby's DNA was sent to the CDC for a sophisticated test. He was held out of the game until the CDC test results come back.

Dec. 13 at Columbus

Crosby's CDC test results came back positive for mumps.

Mumps On The Rise

A CONSULTANT is urging youngsters embarking on university to be vaccinated against mumps following a massive rise in the contagious disease.

Since January this year there have been 38 confirmed cases of mumps in Dartford and 28 in Gravesham.

Throughout 2002 there was only a combined total of three cases registered from both boroughs.

According to Mathi Chandrakumar, director of the Kent Health Protection Unit, it is the worst outbreak he has witnessed in 20 years.

And he says parents not taking up the controversial measles mumps and rubella (MMR) jab are to blame.

The consultant of communicable disease revealed the 15 to 25-year-old age group is the worst hit.

From the 66 cases so far recorded in north Kent, 48 are from this age group.

Mr Chandrakumar said: "We only started the triple vaccination for MMR in 1988.

"There are a lot of young people out there born before this date who are susceptible to mumps and it can make them very ill.

"Those who have not had the vaccination and especially those who are going to university should ask their doctor for the MMR."

Young adults who have not been vaccinated and catch mumps are at risk from meningitis, pancreatitis and in rare cases they can become sterile.

The take-up rate for the MMR vaccination in Dartford and Gravesham is above the national average at 92 per cent.

For the MMR vaccine to work 95 per cent of the total population has to be immunised.

Despite most parents choosing to have children aged under five inoculated, the consultant believes the other eight per cent may be contributing to the rise.

Mr Chandrakumar said: "Those who are not having their children vaccinated are also causing the problem.

"All the studies show it's a very safe vaccination. There are no links whatsoever to autism, as was being suggested in the media, but some parents are still concerned."

The rise in both boroughs is reflected throughout the south east.

In 1999 there were only 11 cases but by this year cases have risen to 1,800, with 15 to 29-year-olds accounting for 1,555 cases.

Mumps is a contagious virus which attacks the glands and normally happens in childhood. The airborne illness takes between two to three weeks to develop and symptoms include swollen glands, fever and headaches.

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