Concerns are growing about a surge in mumps cases among teenagers and young adults across the State and the impact this may have on students about to sit Leaving Certificate exams.
There has been an average of 20 cases of mumps every week since the beginning of the year, bringing the total for the year to date to 394 cases. This compares with just 17 cases over the same period last year.
The Health Service Executive's public health department says the cases are occurring predominantly in young adults, many of whom may be about to do their Leaving Certificate.
Anyone affected, it adds, should not attend work, school, college, or university during their infectious period, which lasts for 10 days from the onset of swelling of the salivary glands. Most of those affected only received one dose of the MMR vaccine or no doses of MMR, the vaccine which protects against measles, mumps and rubella.