Where Did the Mumps Outbreak Start?
Current information indicates that the
mumps outbreak may have begun on a college campus in eastern Iowa. Colleges that have group living, dining, studying, and sports are areas that make
mumps transmission more likely and that increase the chance of a mumps outbreak. Once started, mumps outbreaks sometime spread to the community, causing the illness in people who do not attend college.
Mumps Outbreak and the Mumps Vaccine
People may wonder "Why are people who have been vaccinated getting sick?" The reason is that the
mumps vaccine (usually given as MMR -- the
measles, mumps, and
rubella vaccine) does not provide 100 percent protection. One dose of the mumps vaccine provides protection in approximately 80 percent of people, and two doses provide protection in approximately 90 percent of people. But even though the vaccine is effective, some of the cases of mumps in a mumps outbreak will be in people who were vaccinated against the disease. However, if the vaccine hadn't been used, the mumps outbreak would have affected everyone, rather than just a small percentage of the population.
Mumps Outbreak: Preventing the Spread
Anyone with mumps should not go back to childcare, school, or work for at least 9 days after
mumps symptoms appear. People who come in contact with someone who has mumps should have their immunization status evaluated. Anyone who has not received mumps-containing vaccine (preferably MMR vaccine) should be vaccinated. The local health department or a physician can help determine if a person needs one or two doses of MMR vaccine. People who may have been exposed to the
mumps virus should be educated on the signs and symptoms of mumps, and should seek medical attention if any of these symptoms appear.
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