18 States Report Mumps Cases in 2019

The ongoing measles outbreak now has anti-vaxx competition from another vaccine-preventable disease, mumps. 

From January 1 to 31, 2019, mumps infections have been reported in 58 people from 18 states to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

This new data is good news when compared with 2018 when the CDC confirmed 2,251 mumps cases. 

But, this CDC data may not include mumps cases reported by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency during 2019. So far, ICE facilities in Colorado and Texas have reported mumps cases. 

The leading states reporting mumps cases during 2019 include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Arkansas:  The Department of Health said cases of the mumps have been confirmed on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Three cases have been confirmed and there is another suspected case of the mumps at the university over the last few weeks.
• Georgia:  Nancy Nydam, Director of Communications for The Georgia Department of Public Health, wrote, “An outbreak of mumps has been reported at the facility and the investigation is ongoing.”
• Illinois: Eight cases were reported in two locations; six at Crystal Lake church and two at the McHenry County Correctional Facility. Health officials are working to determine if the two locations are related. 
• Indiana:  Two confirmed cases of the mumps have been found at Indiana University in Bloomington, health officials said. 
• Montana: Three cases of mumps are confirmed in children attending Bozeman public schools, and health officials are investigating other possible cases. 
• North Dakota: The North Dakota Department of Health has confirmed five cases of mumps statewide, three of them in Stark County and two in Williams County. 
• Pennsylvania: Officials at a Delaware County elementary school are warning parents after a student was diagnosed with mumps. Officials at Garrett-Ford Elementary in Drexel Hill sent an email to parents regarding the health concern.
• Utah:  Southern Utah health officials say they have a reported case of mumps that popped up at an elementary school in St. George earlier this month. However, they believe because of the long delay before symptoms show, there could be more cases.
• Wisconsin:  A Marquette University student has contracted mumps. In an email to students, the school said the infected student lives in one of the residence halls. 

Internationally, Ireland has reported a mumps outbreak during 2019.

According to reporting by the Irish Times, there have been 278 mumps cases in the first 6 weeks of 2019, compared with 43 for the same time in 2018, according to the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre. Nine outbreaks were reported in school, university, community, and private home settings, with the majority of cases occurring among teenagers and young adults. 

A major factor contributing to mumps outbreaks is being in a crowded environment or living in a dormitory with a person who is infectious with mumps, says the CDC. 

One mumps outbreak in Ireland forced the cancellation of a schools rugby match in south Dublin, while Trinity College, DCU, and schools in Co Louth have also been affected. 

During 2018, various colleges have reported mumps cases, such as Cincinnati, Emory, Harvard, James Madison University, Michigan, Northern Colorado, Northeastern University, Oklahoma University, Penn State, TCU, Texas State and Western Illinois University.

According to the previous study, another potential cause of these mumps outbreaks is ‘waning-immunization.’ 

A previous study from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that vaccine-derived immune protection against mumps persists on average about 27 years, after the last administered dose. 

In response to the expanding number of mumps outbreaks, the CDC released guidance in October 2017, regarding when the 3rd dose of mumps vaccine is appropriate. This new CDC guidance did not recommend a 3rd MMR dose outside of a ‘confirmed mumps outbreak’. 

Another reason for mumps outbreaks could be under-vaccinations by international travelers. 

The CDC says international travelers who cannot show that they were vaccinated or are otherwise protected against mumps, should get vaccinated before leaving the USA. 

The MMR vaccine prevents most, but not all, cases of mumps and complications caused by the disease. Children under the age of 12 years old may also get the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox). 

The mumps component of the MMR vaccine has reported being 88 percent effective when a person gets 2 vaccine doses. 

In the USA, most pharmacies offer MMR vaccination services. To schedule an appointment with a pharmacist visit this site. 

The CDC Vaccine Price List provides private sector vaccine prices for general information. Vaccine discounts can be found here.

Vaccines, like any medicine, can have side effects, says the CDC. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of vaccines to the FDA or CDC.