In a follow-up on the mumps outbreak in Hawaii, The Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) now reports 30 cases statewide with the confirmation of three cases in East Oahu residents Thursday. The disease has been confirmed in children and adults, both vaccinated and unvaccinated.
The Department is investigating a cluster of cases exposed at the Job Corps Center in Waimanalo.
As the numbers of cases investigated related to the initial two clusters increases, the identification of new isolated (i.e., no travel and no relation to those clusters) cases grows. To date, none of the infected individuals have required hospitalization for mumps.
Prevent the spread of mumps in our community by:
- Ensuring your family is fully vaccinated with the MMR vaccine. High vaccination coverage helps to limit the spread of mumps.
- Patients suspected or diagnosed with mumps should self-isolate and avoid going out and exposing others for 9 days after onset of parotitis (swelling of the salivary glands).
- People who have been exposed to mumps and are not vaccinated should not attend school, work or travel from day 12 through day 25 after exposure.
Related:
- Rat lungworm: Additional case reported on Big Island
- Anthrax sickens six slaughterhouse workers in Thika, Kenya
- Gauteng Province measles outbreak now 17 cases, Mass measles vaccination campaign this month
- Alaska: Mumps case confirmed in Anchorage
- Melanoma: An interview with dermatologist, Dr Seth Forman
