The Honduras Ministry of Health reported recently (computer translated) that more than 5,000 mumps cases have been seen in the country this year to date.
The most affected municipalities include Cortés, which has been hit the hardest reporting the bulk of the cases (3,788) followed by Metropolitanas de San Pedro Sula (855 cases), Yoro (416) and Francisco Morazán (69 cases).
telesurtv Honduras reports the government has declared a medical state of emergency.
The Honduran Ministry of Health said this week that there are currently 3,266,931 adults within the country susceptible to mumps because they never received the vaccine as children.
Health authorities are calling on the population to continue with the vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) for children 12 and 18 months of age and recommend to the general population the hygienic measures of control and prevention.
Mumps: Why it’s seen a resurgence
Mumps is an acute infectious disease caused by the mumps virus. It is spread via coughing, sneezing, kissing, sharing glasses or utensils, and touching a surface that has the virus on it. Mumps is suspected when there is swelling of one or more of the saliva glands. The swelling may just be on one side, but is more commonly on both. Sometimes the glands under the tongue or jaw are affected also. Other possible symptoms of mumps include: fever, headache, earache, tiredness, sore muscles, dry mouth, poor appetite, and trouble talking, chewing, or swallowing.
Before the swelling occurs, flu-like symptoms appear in about half of those who get the virus. In children under 5, mumps can show up as a lung infection. Fever usually lasts 1-6 days but enlargement of the glands may go on for 10 days or longer. A few people may have little or no symptoms but can still spread the virus. When a person is exposed to mumps, it usually takes from 16 – 18 days for them to get sick, but it can range from 12 – 25 days. The virus is most contagious from 2 days before the swelling starts until 5 days after it goes away.
Waning vaccine-derived immunity linked to mumps re-emergence: Study
