Kevin Tano, Pacific Daily News
Published 5:53 p.m. ChT March 21, 2018
Residents are asked to be mindful when
traveling as mumps cases have been reported in Hawaii and other areas in
the Pacific, according to the Department of Public Heath and Social
Services.
According to Public
Health, the Hawaii State Department of Health reported 929 cases of
mumps since 2017. The case count by island:
- 743 on Oahu
- 49 on Kauai
- 134 on Hawaii
- 3 on Maui
According
to the release, cases have been found in children and adults, both
vaccinated and unvaccinated. Approximately 60 percent of cases have been
in adults aged 18 years and older.
Annette Aguon,
immunization program manager at Public Health, urges residents to be
mindful when traveling to and from Hawaii or the other islands.
"We want to remind residents the outbreak is ongoing and are encouraged to update their immunization records," Aguon said.
She said it's best to get vaccinated as early as two weeks before travel.
Mumps
is characterized by fever, swelling, with pain/tenderness of the
parotid glands and or salivary glands. Up to half of people show very
mild to no symptoms. Symptoms typically appear 16 to 18 days after
infection, but could range from 12 to 25 days.
The
areas of the lower jaw near the ears usually show apparent swelling,
which could occur on both sides, Aguon said. She added that often people
mistaken mumps for a dental issue.
According to
the release, there is a possibility that the disease may be brought over
by frequent travelers between Guam and Hawaii. Aguon said there are no
known cases on Guam but the agency continues to monitor the outbreak,
especially during spring break.
Prevent the spread
According
to the news release, a key part in prevention is to achieve high
measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, immunization rates. The more people
who are vaccinated, the fewer opportunities the disease can spread.
- All
children should receive two doses of MMR vaccine, with the first dose
given at ages 12 to 15 months and the second dose at four to six years
of age.
- All persons born during or after 1957 should have
documentation of at least one dose of MMR vaccine on or after their
first birthday.
- People suspected or diagnosed with mumps should
isolate themselves to avoid exposing others for nine days after signs
of symptoms.
- People exposed to mumps who are not vaccinated
should not attend school, work, or travel from day 12 through day 25
after exposure.
Source: https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2018/03/21/mumps-outbreak-ongoing-areas-pacific/440788002/" rel="nofollow - https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2018/03/21/mumps-outbreak-ongoing-areas-pacific/440788002/