3 more mumps cases confirmed in Toronto
The bulk of those who have fallen ill are aged 18 to 35, says Toronto Public Health
The number of mumps cases in Toronto has gone up by three, bringing the total to 31 confirmed cases in the city this year, according to Toronto Public Health and the Toronto District School Board.
The bulk of the cases are among people between the ages of 18 and 35, according to Dr. Vinita Dubey, associate medical officer of health. Four of the cases, however, are among students and staff at Toronto schools.
One of the new cases was a contact of a previously known case, Dubey told CBC Toronto in a statement.
The department is investigating any other potential links between the cases.
The additional cases come a day after Toronto Public Health confirmed that three cases in the outbreak are from three different local schools.
Shari Schwartz-Maltz, a spokeswoman for the Toronto District School Board, said Wednesday that the board has been notified of a fourth case within its schools, at Davisville Junior Public School.
The total number of cases has been ticking upwards over the past few weeks, with cases initially tied to downtown Toronto's west-end bar scene, mostly among 18 to 35-year-olds. TPH sent letters to west-end bars, restaurants and schools to remind people to ensure their vaccinations are up-to-date.
With files from Lauren Pelley and Laura Fraser