The Labour Party today called for young people to be given vital vaccinations to combat the massive outbreak of mumps over the past few months.
Ms Liz McManus, the party's health spokeswoman, said there were 68 cases of mumps during the first month of this year compared with just two in January of last year.
"There has been an explosion in the number of mumps cases in recent months, affecting children and students," Ms McManus said. "For young men in particular, there are very serious health consequences associated with mumps and the recent rise in these cases must be addressed immediately."
acute viral infection, which is spread by coughing, sneezing and saliva, usually affects children or young adults. The illness can have some serious side effects including male sterility, meningitis and deafness.
The outbreak of the disease, mainly among students, was first detected last October.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre said the 18 to 24-year-old population was worst affected and the Department of Public Health worked at third-level colleges hit by the disease to offer the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) to students who had never received it.
Many of this group had not received the MMR vaccine as children as it was first introduced for into the baby vaccination programme in 1988.
PA