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For Immediate Release
Date: March 10, 2017
Contact: Leslie Piotrowski
(847) 377-8055
Hannah Goering
(847) 377-8099
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The Lake County Health Department is now reporting four
confirmed cases and 35 probable or suspect cases of mumps in the area. Current information on the number of
confirmed, probable and suspect cases is available to the public on the Health
Department’s website at: http://www.lakecountyil.gov/3875/Mumps.
In response to
the mumps outbreak at Barrington High School, the Health Department and School
District 220 are organizing a clinic for staff, faculty and students affiliated
with the high school to take place early next week. The Health Department is recommending a
second dose of measles, mumps, rubella vaccine (MMR) for those who have only
received one dose, and one dose for those individuals born before 1957. The
vaccination clinic is closed to the public and the media to respect the privacy
of those being vaccinated.
“The vaccine against mumps is extremely effective and usually
produces long lasting immunity,” said Mark Pfister, the Health Department’s
executive director. “While no vaccine is 100-percent effective, it is
important for those who can be vaccinated to take this extra step and help
protect those around them.”
Mumps is a serious contagious disease passed through saliva
and respiratory secretions. This disease is spread by droplets of saliva or mucus from the mouth, nose or throat of
an infected person, usually when the person coughs, sneezes or talks.
Up to half
of people who get mumps have very mild or no symptoms, and therefore do not
know they were infected with mumps. The most common symptoms include: fever,
headache, muscle aches, tiredness, loss of appetite, swollen and tender
salivary glands under the ears on one or both sides (parotitis).
In addition to the MMR vaccine,
it is important to practice good health and hygiene habits to reduce the spread
of disease, including washing your hands frequently with soap and water, not
sharing eating utensils, drinking cups, or cigarettes, sanitizing frequently
touched surfaces, and minimizing close contact with other people when sick.
Complications from mumps,
although rare, can include inflammation of the testicles, ovaries, breasts
and/or brain. People with mumps are considered contagious typically two days
before until five days after parotid swelling. Those with symptoms should stay
home and contact their health care provider.
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