Central Ohio Mumps Outbreak -- 6.24.2014
COLUMBUS PUBLIC HEALTH
FRANKLIN COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH
DELAWARE GENERAL HEALTH DISTRICT
MADISON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
For Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Contact: Jose Rodriguez (614) 645-6928
[email protected] Mitzi Kline (614) 525-3028
[email protected] Traci Whittaker (740) 203-2085
[email protected] Alexis Evans Comer (740) 852-3065 x 1521
[email protected] Central Ohio Mumps Outbreak now Exceeds Total Cases Reported in the United States in 2013
Health Officials Urge Residents to get Protected as Soon as Possible As of 8 a.m. today, 439 mumps cases have been reported in Columbus, Franklin, Madison and Delaware counties. In 2013, 438 cases were reported in the United States. The 2014 Central Ohio mumps incidence is the highest since 1979 when 930 cases were reported for the entire year (926 in Columbus & Franklin County & four in Madison County).
“The large number of cases in this mumps outbreak is a grim reminder that highly infectious, vaccine preventable diseases can spread quickly and affect large numbers of people,” says Columbus Public Health Commissioner Dr. Teresa Long. “We are only protected when our community is protected, and anytime we have unvaccinated and under-vaccinated groups, we are all at risk.”
Local cases include complications such as severe pain, inflammation of the testicles (orchitis) in post pubescent males (12), inflammation of the ovaries (oophoritis) in post pubescent females (5), deafness (1) and hospitalizations.
As the investigation of the local mumps outbreak continues, Columbus Public Health, Franklin County Public Health, Madison County Health Department and the Delaware General Health District health commissioners urge individuals at highest risk of mumps to get vaccinated with measles-mumps-rubella (MMR).
Two doses of MMR are needed for protection. Anyone who has not received any doses of MMR and those who have received only one dose of MMR should be vaccinated as soon as possible. Additionally, people born before 1987 are likely to have received just one or no MMR doses and should also be vaccinated.
People whose parents/guardians objected to vaccinations are also at risk if they did not receive the MMR vaccine. To get a copy of your vaccination record, check with your healthcare provider.
MORE ABOUT MUMPS:
For more information about mumps, including symptoms, how it spreads and ways to prevent it, visit:
cdc.gov/mumpspublichealth.columbus.gov myfcph.org
delawarehealth.org
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