By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews
Health officials in San Diego County are reporting three mumps cases in three unrelated people at three different high school campuses in the county–High Tech High School International, La Jolla High School and San Pasqual High School.
“We are working closely with school officials to inform the school communities about the symptoms of mumps and vaccine recommendations,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “Because there is no prevention after exposure for mumps, people should be watching for symptoms and make sure they have all the recommended doses of measles, mumps and rubella immunizations.”
Mumps is a highly contagious viral disease. It is spread by coughing, sneezing or close contact with an infected person. Mumps causes a fever, headache, earache, and inflammation of the salivary glands which results in swelling and tenderness at the angle of the jaw.
Severe complications are rare, but can include meningitis, decreased fertility, permanent hearing loss, and, in extreme cases, fetal loss during first trimester of pregnancy.
There is no treatment for mumps. Most people recover without problems.
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The best way to prevent mumps is by getting the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine. Two doses of the vaccine are recommended—one at 12 to 15 months of age and another at 4 to 6 years of age.
To date, a total of 47 mumps cases have been reported in San Diego County in 2019, the highest number in the past 25 years.
