Possible Mumps Cases At 2 Schools In Johnson County
Follow CBSDFW.COM: Facebook | Twitter
JOHNSON COUNTY (CBSDFW.COM) – The Texas Department of State Health Services is investigating several suspected cases of mumps in Johnson County, and the patients involved include students at Keene Elementary and Keene High School.
Due to the risk the illness poses to unvaccinated and under-vaccinated students, Elvin Adams, MD, MPH, the Johnson County Health Authority has advised Keene ISD that those students should not come to school until they are fully vaccinated or the outbreak has ended.
This recommendation is in keeping with state and Federal recommendations for the control of mumps.
"Mumps is highly contagious and can have serious long-term consequences for a small percentage of people who get it," said Dr. Adams. "It's important that we protect everyone we can through vaccination or by minimizing their possible exposure to the virus to keep them healthy and stop the outbreak."
The district has identified 34 students that will possibly be affected by this exclusion policy and is making plans to help keep those students up-to-date on their class work, according to a Keene ISD news release.
"Our top priority is the safety of our students, so we'll continue to work closely with Dr. Adams and the state health department to take the actions needed to protect our students and the community," said Superintendent Ricky Stephens.
People with mumps typically get sick about 16-18 days after having contact with someone who is infected with the virus. (but may be up to 25 days) Symptoms include low-grade fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, loss of appetite and swollen glands under the ears or jaw.
Mumps can spread before glands are swollen and up to five days afterwards.
Dallas County issued a health advisory about mumps last week.
Health leaders there said the exposure to mumps likely occurred during a Halloween party on October 29 in the 75219 zip code.
In 2016 prior to these outbreaks, nine cases of mumps were reported in the region through October with an average of five cases per year in the last five years, according to DSHS.
In 2015, 20 cases of mumps were reported in Texas.
(©2016 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
