Case of mumps reported in county

NORRISTOWN » Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services Office of Public Health (OPH) is currently investigating a confirmed case of mumps in an eight-year-old resident. The patient was evaluated at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The patient presented with parotitis (swelling of the salivary gland), the most common symptom of mumps. During OPH’s investigation, it was verified that the patient is up to date with Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine.

OPH’s ongoing investigation will include interviewing the family to confirm household/close contact immunity status and exclusion recommendation if necessary. OPH will also be assisting the child’s school in communicating to their parent population on education and prevention messaging.

The county declined to identify the patient’s location in order to protect the patient’s privacy.

Mumps is a virus that is transmitted by direct contact with saliva and discharges from the nose and throat of an infected patient. Contact includes behaviors that would result in exchanging saliva such as kissing, sharing utensils, cups, lip balm or cigarettes. Mumps can be spread three days before a person becomes ill with parotitis and up to five days after the start of parotitis. During the infectious period, when the virus can spread, patients are recommended to be isolated to reduce the spread.

The OPH recommends that if any individual is experiencing signs and symptoms consistent with mumps to contact their health care provider immediately. The OPH would also urge residents to verify the immunity status for mumps. Mumps is a vaccinepreventable disease that can be prevented by receiving the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine series, which protects from all three infections. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends children receive two doses of the MMR vaccine; one dose at 12-15 months of age and the second dose at 4-6 years of age. The CDC recommends, in situations where there is an outbreak, that a third dose for those who are at increased risk of acquiring Mumps.

Consistent to what is currently being seen in Montgomery County, the CDC has reported an increase in mumps cases in the United States in recent years and contributes the increase of outbreaks to settings where people have close contact with one another, such as large public gatherings.

In 2016, there were 6,366 cases of mumps in the United States compared to 228 cases that were identified in 2012. Montgomery County follows the national trend with the reporting of case numbers increasing over the last five years; zero cases were reported in 2013, while 12 cases were reported from 2014 to 2017.

Mumps is a reportable disease in Pennsylvania and someone who is suspected of having the disease should be reported immediately to the OPH at 610-278-5117. The OPH can assist by providing recommendations for testing of a suspected mumps patient and provide recommendations of outbreak prevention and management. Outbreak control measures include, but are not limited to, isolation of a suspect mumps patient, identification and immunization status of individuals who may be susceptible to contracting mumps.

For Digital First Media