© 2024 Western New York Public Broadcasting Association

140 Lower Terrace
Buffalo, NY 14202

Mailing Address:
Horizons Plaza P.O. Box 1263
Buffalo, NY 14240-1263

Buffalo Toronto Public Media | Phone 716-845-7000
WBFO Newsroom | Phone: 716-845-7040
Your NPR Station
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Mumps a growing concern for the NHL and others

WBFO File Photo
/
WBFO News

Mumps is a disease which was once a serious health problem but has been essentially wiped out by a vaccine licensed in 1967. Last year, there were 438 confirmed cases in the U.S. and this year, there have been nine cases in the National Hockey League among players and two among on-ice officials. There have also been four university outbreaks.

Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein says sports is an ideal environment for transmission because players work and practice so closely with teammates. Burstein says as a young doctor she saw children in Africa die from diseases we block with vaccinations.

"I did see children die of measles. I saw children die of pertussis. It's very, very sad, and seeing in the United States where parents are refusing immunizations that can place their children at risk for very serious diseases that can cause permanent damage or even death is so disheartening", said Burstein.

Dr. Burstein says mumps is potentially a very serious health problem among adults because of side effects of the disease and many adults haven't had the prescribed booster shots, although NHL teams are giving them to players.

Mike Desmond is one of Western New York’s most experienced reporters, having spent nearly a half-century covering the region for newspapers, television stations and public radio. He has been with WBFO and its predecessor, WNED-AM, since 1988. As a reporter for WBFO, he has covered literally thousands of stories involving education, science, business, the environment and many other issues. Mike has been a long-time theater reviewer for a variety of publications and was formerly a part-time reporter for The New York Times.