Young people in the Midlands are being urged to get an up-to-date MMR jab after new figures revealed a huge increase in mumps cases in Solihull.

In the first nine weeks of 2003, just 13 people were diagnosed with the illness, but this year - during the same period - 117 incidents were reported to the Birmingham and Solihull Health Protection Unit.

In Solihull alone, between six and 20 new mumps cases are being reported each week. Nationally, the number of mumps cases reported has risen by 326 per cent, from 4,204 between January and March 2003 to 13,708 for the same period this year.

About 75 per cent of the new cases involve people aged between 15 and 24 - the generation of young people who did not receive two doses of the MMR vaccine in childhood.

Prior to its introduction, there was no vaccination available for mumps.

The impact of MMR meant that young people did not catch mumps in childhood as previous ones had done.

But without the second jab, they are now increasingly susceptible if exposed to the virus, and some outbreaks have been occurring in schools, colleges, military units and universities.

Dr Alan Stanton, a consultant community paediatrician for Solihull Primary Care Trust, said: "These figures give cause for concern, although not panic. In most people, mumps is a mild, self-limiting illness.

"There can be complications, such as a form of meningitis which is usually mild and recovers fully without treatment, inflammation of the testicles which rarely leads to sterility, and very occasionally loss of hearing in one ear.

"The disease can be prevented in virtually all cases by two doses of the MMR vaccine, and we would therefore strongly suggest that young people in the 15 to 24 age group contact their GPs to ensure that this is done."

The vaccine can be given as part of the "school leaver" booster or by itself to any young person in this age group who requests it.

It is important for those going to college or joining the armed forces to have the jab.