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Sunday, July 05, 2009

Posted: Sunday, Apr 30, 2006 - 01:54:34 am CDT

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Getting a jump on the mumps
By JON HETZEL
The Fulton Sun

With the upsurge of more than 1,000 cases of mumps in Iowa and additional carriers identified every day in Missouri, Callaway County officials are trying to stay ahead of the virus' spread.

A majority of the population afflicted with the disease are college-age students, and local schools are checking vaccination records.

“Students have to show proof that they've had their (measles, mumps and rubella) shots. Otherwise, it will hold up their ability to register (for classes),” said Westminster spokesman Rob Crouse.

As of Thursday, there were 60 mumps cases statewide, with 13 confirmed, said Brian Quinn, spokesman for the Missouri Department of Senior Services.

“Typically, the case numbers for Missouri are very low,” Quinn said. “It is usually one to five a year.”

No cases have been identified in Callaway. However, one has been confirmed in Osage County and three are probables in Boone County.

Robbie Langdon, Westminster College's clinic coordinator, said some international students cannot provide proof that they have received the MMR shots. In those cases, the clinic can draw the student's blood to test for immunity.

“Vaccine records from some countries are difficult to get,” Langdon said. “Some of the students are refugees. Grabbing the records was not at the top of the list when their families were leaving their homes.”

Langdon said they have had to contact a handful of students to come in and update their MMR status.

“As usual, some are complying and some are not,” Langdon said. “We cannot force someone to take a shot. Š We're trying to educate and protect the students before they go away from our care.”

Callaway County Health Department Administrator Sharon Lynch said there is little officials can do at this point except to carefully watch for signs and symptoms of the mumps.

“It's not like mumps causes dire circumstances and a ton of people will die. But it is uncomfortable,” Lynch said. “I would recommend that if you have not received your MMRs to get them.”

Lynch also advised that children receive the vaccination as scheduled - the first shot administered at 12-15 months old and the second at about the age of 5.

Common symptoms of the mumps include a fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, loss of appetite and a swelling of the salivary glands. Although rare, more complicated consequences include inflammation of the brain, testicles and ovaries, spontaneous abortion and deafness.

Mumps generally is spread when a person coughs or sneezes. Symptoms tend to appear 16-18 days after infection.

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