Mumps outbreak
are you and your family protected?
New Zealand is currently experiencing a
mumps outbreak and so it’s a good time
to check that you and your family are up
to date with immunisations.
In the last 12 months there have been more
than 300 cases of mumps reported in New
Zealand. Most of these have been in the
Auckland region.
“Intermediate and secondary school age
children, as well as young adults in their
twenties have been the most aff ected by this
outbreak,” says Dr Neil de Wet, Medical
Offi cer of Health.
Mumps is a viral infection that usually
aff ects the saliva glands. Symptoms include
fever, headache and swelling over the
cheek or jaw area on one or both sides of
the face. It is spread from person to person
by coughing and sneezing and symptoms
appear 2 to 3 weeks after coming into
contact with someone with mumps.
“It is typically a mild illness that gets better
after about a week but it can cause more
unpleasant symptoms such as swelling of
the testes. On rare occasions there can be
serious complications such as damage to
hearing or infl ammation of the brain,” says
Dr Neil de Wet.
The MMR (measles, mumps and rubella)
vaccine is a routine childhood immunisation
given at 15 months and again at 4 years
Make sure you and your family have been immunised to help prevent illness from measles, mumps and rubella.
of age. This is more than 95% eff ective in
preventing measles and rubella, and is about
85% eff ective in preventing mumps. The
MMR vaccine is the best protection against
these diseases. It is recommended and free
for anyone born after 1 January 1969 who
has missed having it or who needs to catch
up on the second dose.
If you’re not sure if you or your family has
had their MMR vaccinations, please contact
your family doctor to check.
For more information about mumps,
please visit the Ministry of Health website -
www.health.govt.nz and search for mumps.
FREE
CERVICAL
SCREENING
CLINICS
COMING UP:
WHAKATĀNE
Eastern Bay Primary Health Alliance
5 Louvain Street, Whakatāne
Telephone 07 306 2341
to make an appointment
Māori Health Service,
Whakatāne Hospital.
EBPHA Screening Support Advocate Kathleen Taipeti is reminding women it’s time to screen.
Ladies it’s time to screen
Forget spring cleaning, September Eastern Bay Primary Health Alliance smear or are well overdue, and take the test
is Cervical Screening Awareness Support to Screening Service also provides will receive a pamper pack.
free Cervical Screening and support both
Month. Are you up to date?
Latest Ministry of Health statistics show
Having a regular cervical smear test once
every three years continues to be the
best protection against the development
of invasive cervical cancer.
Regular
smear tests can reduce a woman’s risk of
developing cervical cancer by 90%.
In the Eastern Bay, cervical smears are
free for women who are enrolled with a
General Practice. You can fi nd out when
your next smear is due by calling your
doctor’s practice or ring 0800 729 729.
within the clinic and in some cases at home.
The service is for women aged 30 years
plus who have never had a cervical smear
or have not had one in the last fi ve years
or more. Māori, Pacifi c and Asian women
aged 20-69 years can receive support and
cervical smears through the service as well.
To mark Cervical Screening Awareness
Month, Support to Screening is running a
competition. Women who seek support for
screening this month will go into a draw to
win a $50 café voucher. And women aged
30 years plus who have either never had a
the Bay of Plenty District Health Board
is on target with 80-percent of women
aged 25-69 having cervical screening.
However a breakdown of the fi gures shows
69-percent of Māori women are having
their three yearly cervical smear.
For more information about the Support
to Screening Service, or clinics in the
EBOP please call the Eastern Bay
Primary Health Alliance on 07 306 2341,
or visit 5 Louvain Street, Whakatāne, or
email [email protected]
Drop In Clinic Mondays:
9am to 1.30pm on 25 September,
30 October, 27 November and
11 December.
KAWERAU
Tu Wheretoa Ki Kawerau,
Ranfurly Court.
Drop In Clinic Fridays:
9am - 12.30pm on 1 September, 6
October, 3 November and 1 December.
OPOTIKI
(Old) Gentlemans Club, King Street
Drop In Clinic Mondays:
9am to 12.30pm on 2 October,
6 November and 4 December.
MATATA
Matata Community Resource Centre.
Drop In Clinic Fridays:
9am to 12.30pm on 29 September,
27 October, 24 November.