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| Courtesy Ron Niebrugge |
A fourth case of mumps in Anchorage suggest the disease could be circulating in the community. Three new cases were reported in August, adding to a case reported two months ago.
In the May case, the patient likely caught the virus from a relative who recently traveled abroad. Two patients diagnosed this month are also related, but the third is not, leading health officials to think the virus may be spreading among the unvaccinated population. Three of the four cases identified this year have occurred in Pacific Islanders.
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| Dr. Deb Kiley |
Fearless Wellnes.com Dr. Deborah Kiley: “The thing that makes mumps special or different is swelling of the jaw. You look like you have a really big chipmunk cheek , usually on one side. It is not like a swollen gland that is down beneath the jawline, it swelling of the salivary glands. You also get the other symptoms of a virus, so you don’t feel good, you might have a fever, and you feel bad before the big symptoms come out.”
DHSS warns that persons with mumps are most infectious from 2 days prior to 5 days after the onset of parotitis. Infected people without symptoms of mumps may still be able to transmit the virus. Call your clinician before coming in, to get their advise on how to proceed.
Fearless Wellnes.com Dr. Deborah Kiley: “When a child gets mumps its one thing, more serious for an adult. An adult can get the mumps.”
August is National Immunization Awareness month, and the outbreak is prompting the Alaska Department of Health & Social Services Division of Public Health to remind people to check their vaccination records.
According the the Alaska Public Health Advisory, mumps is a contagious, vaccine preventable viral illness, shared through coughing and sneezing. It can also be contracted from sharing saliva through activities like kissing or sharing cups and utensils. Symptoms typically appear 16–18 days after exposure (range 12–25 days).
Vaccination against mumps (with measles mumps, and rubella – MMR vaccine) is the best way to protect yourself and others from mumps infection. Two doses of the mumps vaccine is about 88% effective at preventing mumps. That means that if you have 100 people who are fully vaccinated, 88 of them will be fully protected. The remaining 12 will still be vulnerable to mumps.
Adults who have not had one dose of MMR vaccine or who do not have evidence of immunity should get vaccinated promptly. Certain adults who are at risk of exposure may need a second dose. Note: pregnant women or people that are immunocompromised should not receive the MMR vaccine.
If you are at risk for mumps, the State offers the following advise:
Ensure that you and your family members are up-to-date on your mumps vaccinations.If you develop parotitis (tender puffy cheeks) and/or other symptoms of mumps, call your health care provider or the emergency department, before coming into the clinic, for instructions about how and where to be evaluated.
The reason to call ahead of time is to minimize the potential for exposing others by showing up unexpectedly in a clinic or ER waiting room. Persons with suspected mumps must self-isolate for 5 days after swelling onset.
If you currently don’t have access to a medical home or a health care provider, contact your local public health nurse.
Recommended adult and childhood immunization schedules are available on-line:http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/iz/Pages/parents.aspx
Note that health care settings have slightly different criteria for acceptable presumptive evidence of immunity for health care workers, and these criteria are available here:https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/rec-vac/hcw.html
Vaccine is available at various locations around Alaska, including clinics and retail pharmacies. Call ahead to ensure availability.
Resources
Section of Epidemiology Mumps webpage: http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/id/Pages/Mumps.aspx
Section of Laboratories Mumps Testing information: http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Labs/Documents/LaboratoryTests.pdf (see page 42)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Mumps webpage: https://www.cdc.gov/mumps/
Contact your local public health nurse.
Section of Laboratories Mumps Testing information: http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Labs/Documents/LaboratoryTests.pdf (see page 42)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Mumps webpage: https://www.cdc.gov/mumps/
Contact your local public health nurse.
Story as aired on KSRM News:
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