As St. Patrick’s Day party people gear up to celebrate this Friday, public health officials are cautioning Torontonians that mumps is still kicking around town.

The most recent data shows the city has confirmed 43 cases of the disease in Toronto, which is about double the number that was counted about two weeks ago.

Most cases have occurred in people in their late teens to mid-thirties, and the hike in cases has been linked to patrons of bars in the city’s west end.

With packed gatherings expected around the city for St. Paddy’s and the outbreak still under investigation, Toronto Public Health is asking people to protect themselves against the disease.

Mumps is a virus that lives in saliva and can be transmitted through coughing, sneezing, kissing and drink-sharing. Those who have it may experience a fever, swollen salivary glands, headaches, and could feel more tired and less hungry.

“Toronto bars themselves are not of concern,” said Vinita Dubey, associate medical officer of health with the city. “It is the people who go to bars and may be contagious and can potentially spread the virus in crowded situations.”

The city says people should keep an eye out for symptoms and should stay away from sharing food and drinks. Anyone who is sick should stay home, Dubey said.

People born after 1970 should make sure they have received two doses of the mumps vaccine, the city advises, warning that people born between 1970 and 1992 may have only received one dose. Anyone in that situation should get a booster, the city recommends.

Dubey said Toronto Public Health makes sure restaurants and bars maintain safety standards. Earlier this month, the city sent a letter to more than a thousand local bars and restaurants regarding the outbreak.

In its note, the city advised management to make sure employees were properly vaccinated against mumps, to monitor for symptoms and also to make sure that glasses and dishes were properly sanitized.

Several bar managers contacted by the Star said they’d received this notice from the city.

Chris Pagonis, owner of The Craft Brasserie & Grill on Atlantic Ave. — which expects to be busy on Friday — said he had posted the city's letter for his staff to read. “The staff is aware, if they want to speak to the guests about it, or if they see someone wanting to share a drink with the same glass, they’ll let them know,” he said. He said the restaurant is continuing to adhere to “regular sanitary measures.”

Dane Kumar, who manages The Citizen on King St. W, said he’s hired a professional company to clean the bar’s dishwashing and glass washing machines this week “just to be on the safe side.”

He noted that officials had been by his bar more frequently than usual for inspections related to mumps. “As long as you keep your bar clean, you’re pretty good,” Kumar said.

None of the bar owners reached by the Star said they’d seen their sales or attendance impacted by the recent mumps outbreak.