Outbreak
Mumps cases on increase in Kansas
Issue 16 - 05.11.06

BY DANA DINKEL
Staff Writer

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has released an update concerning the rising number of mumps cases in Kansas. As of May 2, there have been 382 cases confirmed in 40 counties. In addition, local health departments are investigating 57 patients with potential mumps symptoms.

Three hundred and eighty-two may not seem like a large figure, but it’s shocking considering there have only been 17 confirmed cases in the last 10 years. Before the mumps vaccine was licensed in 1967, the United States had more than 200,000 cases in one year. Since then there have been fewer than 1,000 per year, making epidemics rare.

According to a report on the Kid’s Health website, medical historians think the origin of the name mumps either comes from an old word for “lump” or an old word for “mumble.”

The beginning stages of mumps can be identified by fever and not feeling well. The next notable symptom is the swelling of the parotid glands. These glands are on both sides of the jaw, just below the ears. When swelling occurs, generally the area is very tender.

A person with the above symptoms should consult a doctor immediately. Upon diagnosis, infected persons should not leave home for nine days.

After a person becomes infected with mumps, obvious symptoms are not noticeable until 14 to 18 days. The virus is most commonly found among children and adolescents, and the current outbreak is most prevalent in those between the ages of 18 to 24.

The state with the most mumps infections is Iowa, whose total is now over 1,500. In Kansas, the number of cases is increasing and an up-to-date figure can be found at www.kdheks.gov. The Kansas county with the highest number of mumps-stricken patients is Douglas County with over 160 cases confirmed.

Cowley County currently has only two cases confirmed and one probable (unconfirmed) case, according to county Health Department Administrator Janice McCoy. McCoy said that it’s important for Cowley students to be immunized.

“I would encourage the students to have a second MMR. We’re administering them at the health department for $14.75,” she said.

The University of Kansas was hit hard as 121 students had already contracted mumps by May 2. One cause of on-campus infection is interaction between dorm residents. The disease can spread quickly among people who share clothes or drinking glasses.

Cowley College’s Director of Health Services, Tracy Bergagnini, noted that being within three feet of an infected person for just one hour can cause the virus to spread. The virus is most frequently spread through coughing and sneezing since it’s contagious through tiny drops of fluid from the mouth and nose.

If a dorm resident were diagnosed with mumps, the virus could spread quickly. For those students who do not live near home, a separate room would have to be made available in order to quarantine the infected person. If there were a large number of cases on campus, there could eventually be nowhere to place mumps infected people.
Bergagnini said that since mumps is a viral disease, there isn’t anything more to do besides wait.

Similar to chickenpox, mumps normally only strike a person once. One bout almost always gives lifelong protection against another.

Avoiding mumps completely is nearly impossible, since even a person who has two immunizations after the age of 1 is still only 95 percent protected. If a person has one immunization after the age of 1, that person is approximately 80 percent protected from mumps.

Vaccines have been made available in Kansas, as the state government is providing free MMR vaccines to all counties. Individuals wishing to receive an immunization should contact their county health department for more information.