Sask. health officials brace for mumps

The deputy medical health officer in Saskatchewan says it's just a matter of time before cases of the mumps show up in this province.

So far, there have been no cases reported in this province in 2017 but there are outbreaks of the virus in both of our neighbouring provinces.

• Number of mumps cases in Manitoba doubles; outbreak expected to continue for months

Dr. Denise Werkersays as of last Friday, Manitoba had cases in every age group throughout the province.

"And we know that there is a lot of interaction between Saskatchewan and Manitoba so we wanted to alert physicians and the public to be ready for mumps," Werker told reporters on Tuesday.

Providing a second round of the vaccine wasn't practised until the early 1990s, which has led to a small gap in theherd immunityfor those born between 1970 and 1994.

• Mumps makes a comeback in Canada and the U.S.

Anyone born before 1970 is likely to have had mumps as a child and is considered immune to the virus.

Today, children who are vaccinated on schedule in Saskatchewan have their second shot at 18 months old and are considered protected.