Hawaiian Islands Mumps Outbreak Declared Over

Honolulu, Hawai'i, Kaua and Maui mumps virus outbreak sickened 1,009 people
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(Precision Vaccinations News)

The Hawai'i State Department of Health (DOH) has declared the mumps outbreak on several Hawaiian Islands over. 

This is good news since over 8 million people visit the Hawaiian Islands each year. 

The final number of confirmed mumps cases in Hawai'i (1,009) by county are as follows: 

  • Honolulu: 819
  • Hawai'i Island: 134
  • Kauai: 49
  • Maui: 7

The islands of Lani and Molokai did not report mumps cases during the outbreak, which began during March 2017. 

“We are able to declare the mumps outbreak over because there have been no new cases confirmed in the last 50 days, which totals two maximum incubation periods for the illness,” said Sarah Park, MD, state epidemiologist, in a press release.   

This declaration means the extra Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine dose is no longer recommended by the DOH. 

The DOH’s recommendation for a 3rd MMR vaccination is related to new research which indicates the immunity decreases over time. 

A recent study from Harvard found that vaccine-derived immune protection against mumps persists an average of about 27 years, after the last dose.

Which means, in addition to the currently recommended 2 doses of the MMR vaccine early in life, a 3rd booster shot may help sustain immunization among adults. 

The DOH continues to recommend routine vaccination and prevention strategies, including staying home when sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and washing hands frequently. 

The Hawaiian Islands are one of the most geographically isolated places on earth, 

Regarding the entire USA, 47 states have reported mumps infections in 1,774 people to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of September 8, 2018. 

Both the MMR and ProQuad vaccines contain protection against mumps. 

Most pharmacies in the USA offer mumps vaccination services. 

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.

 

 

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