Mumps Immunizations Required For Returning Cleburne Students
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CLEBURNE (CBSDFW.COM) - Parents in Cleburne are being told their children must be immunized for mumps before they can return to school, following reports of at least 22 possible mumps cases in the area and several confirmed cases of mumps in Johnson County schools.
Keene ISD already adopted the same policy Wednesday. And, school and health officials all gathered for a special meeting on Cleburne Friday to focus on containing the spread of mumps.
"They are very actively responding to this," according to the Johnson County Emergency Management coordinator. "It's good to keep this in perspective."
City, county and state officials met at an emergency operations center for a briefing. Their goals are to focus their message, keep accurate count of the number of cases and keep people calm about the outbreak of mumps.
"This is unusual because it's not something that we see all the time," Moore said. "But that doesn't necessarily equate to that it's more serious than other things like the flu. It just means that it's unusual for people."
County health officials said the mumps was brought to their area by people who visited Arkansas where there is a far larger mumps outbreak.
Parents picking up students at Keene and Cleburne schools received health notices from the school districts. They were told there are 22 suspected mumps cases in the area. children have to have immunization shots or they have to stay home for 26 days.
"If you haven't had any, you need to get one," said Dr. Elvin Adams, Johnson County Public Health Authority about the shots. "If you get one, you get back into school tomorrow."
Protocol also calls for a second shot for people who've only had one in the past.
Parents say they're glad the schools are proactive.
"Well I'd rather be aware of it then be behind a curtain," said Destiny Fabela, a mother.
"I think they have handled it pretty well," said mother of three Desiree Hill. "I think they warned us about it. They sent us newsletters and stuff like that. So I think they have it pretty down."
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