A RISE in mumps in Bolton has led to doctors offering vaccines to more people.

So far this year, there has been 52 cases of mumps -- compared to 15 cases for the whole of 2003.

Most of the cases are occuring in teenagers and young adults born before 1991 because this group were not offered MMR when it was launched.

The increase is reflected across Greater Manchester and the North-west. This year, there has been 992 cases of mumps across the North-west and 575 in Greater Manchester.

During the whole of 2003 there was 234 cases in the North-west and 84 in Greater Manchester. The second dose of MMR -- measles, mumps and rubella -- was introduced in 1996 and offered to all children born from 1991, meaning people born during the 1980s are more at risk from mumps.

People in that age group are now being offered MMR.

Bolton Primary Care Trust's Communicable Disease Specialist Graham Munslow said: "There is a group of young people, now aged between 14 and 21, who are vulnerable to mumps because they did not receive two doses of MMR vaccine as children but were less likely to have been exposed to the illness itself than older people.

"I would urge them to see their doctor, and get the lifelong protection offered by immunisation."

The Bolton Primary Care Trust has reached an agreement with family doctors to fund vaccination for young people born between 1983 and 1990.

Mumps is an infectious viral disease in which the salivary glands in the neck become swollen and painful. Symptoms include fever, headache, tenderness in one or both sides of the neck and running nose and eyes.

Occasionally, serious complications can occur. These can include a mild form of meningitis, ear infections, swelling of the testicles in adult men and inflammation of the ovaries and pancreatitis in women.

Dr Catherine Quigley, the Health Protection Agency North-west's Regional Epidemiologist, said : "Mumps is spreading among teenagers including those of university age. MMR is safe and scientifically proven to be effective. The diseases it protects against can be extremely serious and mumps is a particularly nasty example."

Anyone who is not sure if they have previously been vaccinated should consult their family doctor.

A RISE in mumps in Bolton has led to doctors offering vaccines to more people.

So far this year, there has been 52 cases of mumps -- compared to 15 cases for the whole of 2003.

Most of the cases are occuring in teenagers and young adults born before 1991 because this group were not offered MMR when it was launched.

The increase is reflected across Greater Manchester and the North-west. This year, there has been 992 cases of mumps across the North-west and 575 in Greater Manchester.

During the whole of 2003 there was 234 cases in the North-west and 84 in Greater Manchester. The second dose of MMR -- measles, mumps and rubella -- was introduced in 1996 and offered to all children born from 1991, meaning people born during the 1980s are more at risk from mumps.

People in that age group are now being offered MMR.

Bolton Primary Care Trust's Communicable Disease Specialist Graham Munslow said: "There is a group of young people, now aged between 14 and 21, who are vulnerable to mumps because they did not receive two doses of MMR vaccine as children but were less likely to have been exposed to the illness itself than older people.

"I would urge them to see their doctor and get some of the lifelong protection offered by immunisation."

The Bolton Primary Care Trust has reached an agreement with family doctors to fund vaccination for young people born between 1983 and 1990.

Mumps is an infectious viral disease in which the salivary glands in the neck become swollen and painful. Symptoms include fever, headache, tenderness in one or both sides of the neck and running nose and eyes.

Occasionally, serious complications can occur. These can include a mild form of meningitis, ear infections, swelling of the testicles in adult men and inflammation of the ovaries and pancreatitis in women.

Dr Catherine Quigley, the Health Protection Agency North-west's Regional Epidemiologist, said: "Mumps is spreading among teenagers including those of university age. MMR is safe and scientifically proven to be effective. The diseases it protects against can be extremely serious and mumps is a particularly nasty example."

Anyone who is not sure if they have previously been vaccinated should consult their family doctor.