Hillingdon reported the highest number of cases of mumps in London for the first five months of this year.
There has been an alarming rise in the infectious illness, particularly in teenagers and young adults across London, public health officials warned.
Public Health England (PHE), together with the NHS , is investigating shocking figures after nearly 450 cases were reported between January 1 and May 30 this year.
This is an increase of 150 cases compared to the same five month period last year.
A borough-by-borough breakdown for west London shows that of the 438 cases, 126 were reported in west London.
Brent reported the second highest number of cases of mumps in west London followed by Ealing.
At the lower end of the scale, Westminster recorded just eight mumps cases.
| Borough | Number of cases of mumps |
| Brent | 21 |
| City of Westminster | 8 |
| Ealing | 17 |
| Hamemrsmith and Fulham | 14 |
| Harrow | 14 |
| Hillingdon | 24 |
| Hounslow | 13 |
| Kensington and Chelsea | 15 |
| TOTAL | 126 |
PHE is urging Londoners to remind themselves of the symptoms associated with mumps.
What is mumps?
Mumps is a contagious viral infection. Transmission is by direct contact with saliva or droplets from the saliva of an infected person.
Symptoms
Headaches
Fever
Joint pain
Swelling of glands - at the side of the face under the ears
How does mumps spread?
Mumps is spread just like colds and flu – through infected droplets of saliva.
It can be inhaled or picked up from surfaces and transferred into the mouth or nose.
A person is most contagious a few days before the symptoms develop and after.
However, if you have mumps, you can prevent it from spreading by:
- regularly washing your hands with soap
- using and disposing of tissues when you sneeze
- avoiding school or work for at least five days after your symptoms first develop
Prevention
Mumps can be prevented with a vaccine.
In the UK children receive two doses of the combined measles mumps rubella (MMR) vaccine as part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule.
Advice
If you suspect you or anyone else has mumps contact your GP.
Do not go to school, college or work for at least five days after the glands swell.
If you are unsure if you have been vaccinated, contact your GP to arrange a catch-up MMR vaccine.
Parents are encouraged to check their child has had two doses of the MMR vaccination which protects against measles, mumps and rubella.
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