Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 129: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of cases of mumps in the first month of 2005; the way in which this compares with the same period in 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4409/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps and rubella and, in accordance with the recommendations of the immunisation advisory committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, can be administered to children between 12 and 15 months of age. A vaccine uptake rate of 95% is required to protect children from the diseases concerned and to stop the spread of the diseases in the community.

Mumps data provided by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre of the Health Service Executive, formerly the National Disease Surveillance Centre, indicate that 68 mumps cases were reported for the first four weeks of 2005, that is, up until 29 January 2005. Two cases were reported for the same period in 2004. There has been increased mumps activity throughout the country since October 2004.

A number of educational institutions in the country have reported mumps outbreaks/mumps cases among students and some staff. Public health staff are working closely with college health services to provide information and advice on how to prevent mumps and, in some colleges, have administered vaccine to those most at risk of infection. Students in colleges where outbreaks are occurring are being recommended MMR vaccine if they have not already received at least two doses of MMR vaccine. In other colleges, where sporadic cases have occurred, MMR vaccine has been offered to contacts of the cases.

I take this opportunity to again urge all parents to have their children immunised against the diseases covered by the childhood immunisation programme to ensure that both their children and the population generally have maximum protection against the diseases concerned.