Confirmed case of mumps in Cochise County elementary school student
Mar 9, 2019, 1:56 PM | Updated: Nov 22, 2019, 9:12 am
File - In this Feb. 13, 2019, file photo, a health care worker prepares syringes, including a vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), for a child's inoculations at the International Community Health Services in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)
(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)
PHOENIX — Parents getting their children vaccinated has become quite the debate in recent years.
Perhaps that is for good reason, as Cochise County confirmed a case of mumps in a tweet Friday.
The County health department is reminding parents of the importance of getting their children vaccinated following a confirmed case of mumps. The Elfrida elementary school student was… https://t.co/CZ0ukVoNWL
— CochiseCounty (@CochiseCounty) March 9, 2019
The Elfrida Elementary School student that contracted the disease has not been vaccinated.
The vaccination for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) is usually given in two installments. This first is between 12-15 months old and the second between ages four and five.
However, vaccinated individuals can still contract mumps, so it is imperative to pay attention to signs and symptoms.
The main indicators of mumps are swelling and tenderness of salivary glands in the jaw and neck area. Men and women may also experience swelling and pain in the testicles and ovaries, respectively.
Encephalitis (swelling of the brain) can derive from mumps in some cases as well.
The contagious disease is spread via infected secretions from the mouth, nose or throat and can be transmitted by what may seem like harmless acts such as kissing and sharing water bottles.
“If you take your child to a healthcare provider with any of these symptoms, it is important to tell them ahead of time that your child has been exposed to mumps so other patients are not exposed during the visit,” Cochise Health & Social Services Director Carrie Langley told Cochise County.
“If mumps is diagnosed, please notify your school nurse. Your student may return to school on the 6th day after the onset of gland swelling.”
For more information, contact your health provider or Cochise Health & Social Services at 1-800-423-7271.
