Toronto is on pace for a record number of mumps cases this year, with two more cases confirmed, one each at two local schools on Tuesday. The total confirmed cases now stands at 28.

(The last largest mumps outbreak on record was in 2009, according to public health officials, when 33 cases of mumps were confirmed in the city.)

Shari Schwartz-Maltz, a spokesperson for the Toronto District School Board, confirmed on Tuesday that two students had the mumps. The affected students attend King Edward Junior and Senior Public School and Hodgson Senior Public School.

A letter was sent home to students at both schools, urging parents to ensure the vaccination of their children, and the record of it, are up to date.

A task force is being sent to both schools to disinfect all high contact surfaces, including counters, desks, railings and water fountains.

Ontario students are required to be immunized against mumps. Of the 344 students at Hodgson, just one had an exemption from the immunization requirement. The exemption rate at King Edward is unknown.

The announcement of the two new cases comes the day after TDSB confirmed that one of its students was hit with a case of mumps.

The total number of cases at schools now stands at three.

Dr. Vinita Dubey, an associate medical officer with Toronto Public Health, said two of the three students had an inadequate immunization history. The third student’s immunization record was unknown.

Dubey said all three students did not catch the highly contagious virus at school.

“None of the cases got mumps at the school,” she said. “All three cases were contacts of confirmed cases of mumps. They either had household contacts or other contacts and that’s how they got mumps.”

Toronto Public Health is currently investigating the mumps outbreak in the city.

Despite the cases found in the three schools, Dubey said the virus has predominantly affected 18-to-35-year olds who frequented west-end bars in the city, specifically west of Yonge St., east of Lansdowne Ave. and south of Bloor St. W. Some of the cases are related to travel.

Dubey said the newest cases indicates a community outbreak of mumps.

“The initial set of cases has spread mumps to other individuals in the city, which is maybe the second wave. Now, we’ll probably get another wave as well,” she said.

Toronto normally averages about four cases of mumps per year, according to health officials.

The highly contagious virus spreads through coughing, sneezing and coming into contact with a person’s saliva.

Symptoms include swollen saliva glands, loss of appetite, tiredness and headaches.

Dubey is urging both parents and children to check their immunization records and ensure they are up to date on their vaccinations. Two doses of the mumps vaccine are recommended for all individuals born 1970 or later. Those born between 1970 and 1992 may have only received one dose. Public health officials recommend that anyone who is unsure is of their record receive a booster dose.