Brit teenage girl, 17, dies of mumps-linked infection on family holiday to Spain – as desperate parents raise £5k to bring her body home
A TEENAGE girl died of complications related to mumps while on a family holiday in Majorca.
The devastated family of Molly Bower, 17, are now desperately raising money to being her body home and for her funeral.
Nearly 500 people have pledged cash so far, raising almost double the £5,000 target in two days.
Molly, from Sherburn Hill, County Durham, fell ill while on a family holiday in Alcudia and died on Friday.
Her aunt Dominique Bower, who is still is Majorca, : "Tragically Molly died on October 11 through complications of an illness due to mumps.
"To bring our baby girl home it's going to cost us £5,000.
"I'm asking for a small donation or anything that you can to do help. Please, please, please get my beautiful baby home."
After the total was raised in three hours, she added: "Thank you so much for reaching the target. However please keep sharing and donating.
"Anything else will help to give my girl the best send off she deserves xxxxx."
Today donations had reached more than £9,400.
Mumps: once-common killer now in decline
Mumps is a contagious viral infection that is spread by coughs and sneezes like the flu.
Usually it causes acute parotitis - swelling of the saliva glands under each ear - leading to the classic "hamster face" look.
Other symptoms include headache, fever, joint pain and loss of appetite.
Symptoms develop around 17 days after infection, and last around a week.
There is no treatment besides rest and painkillers.
Rarely, mumps causes orchitis (swelling of the testes or ovaries), meningitis or pneumonia.
Complications can include deafness, fertility problems, and occasionally death from encaphalitis - swelling of the brain.
It was once a common childhood disease, and there were epidemics among army recruits.
Since the 1960s there has been a steep drop in cases thanks to immunisation.
Most cases in the UK are among young adults who did not receive the MMR jab as a child.
Sources: NHS/ECDC
Molly's stunned friends paid tribute to her online.
Emma French wrote: "This is such heartbreaking news.
"Molly was a lovely girl with a huge heart and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to know her and see her grow into the young lady she was.
"Let's get her home and give her the send off she deserves."
Tamzin Burnham added: "You were a fabulous friend and I will cherish our memories. I'm heartbroken."
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The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: "Our staff are supporting the family of a British child following her death in Spain, and are in contact with the Spanish authorities.
"Our sympathies are with the family at this difficult time."
Mumps is a highly contagious viral infection that normally passes in two weeks with rest.
It causes characteristic swelling of the jaw, plus general flu-like symptoms such as headache, fever and joint pain.
But rare complications can include meningitis and swelling of other organs, .
The disease is prevented by the MMR vaccine and most cases are in young adults who have not had the jab.
