Iowa Mumps Epidemic Continues to Broaden

[dogday]

DES MOINES, Iowa — The mumps epidemic in Iowa continued to widen this week and reached 605 cases by Thursday, public health officials said. Although the highest concentration of cases remained in eastern Iowa, the virus that causes mumps has infected at least one person in half of the state's 99 counties.

"I certainly would consider this a serious threat," said Dr. Patricia Quinlisk, the state's epidemiologist. "We're doing everything we can to try to address it, get information out, do what we can to try to get it under control."

The state has received about 50 reports of new infections a day, a level which has remained consistent for at least a week. As of Monday, Nebraska has 43 reported cases; Kansas, 33; Illinois, four; Missouri, four; Wisconsin, four; and Minnesota, one.

Iowa Department of Public Health Director Mary Mincer Hansen said questions about how the epidemic started and why it has hit Iowa so hard have not yet been answered.

I hope all those who live in these areas are safe, I have never had the mumps

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/health/3793276.html

[Atman]

1. But what if our CHICKENS get it!

I've already got them wearing tiny little respirator masks, preparing for the bird flu. I hope their little necks don't swell up!

[MissB]

2. There was a mumps outbreak warning issued in Oregon

related to these cases in Iowa because of air travel.

Interestingly enough, my oldest had a mumps-like illness last month. Chipmunk cheek on one side. His ped said it couldn't be mumps because we'd followed the MMR vaccinations. She'd never even seen mumps.

[patdem]

4. I heard/read somewhere that once you have 100% immunization

there would be an outbreak, because the virus/bacteria has no choice but to mutate? If at least some people are getting the disease it is okay, but once it is 100% contained..it will mutate and just become a new epidemic.

[oscar111]

5. virus' dont think.. they are always mutating by chance bumping

and chance irradiation...

at the same rate of mutating , whether or not vaccinations are all around. So i .. a non expert ... seem to understand such things. just my humble, half educated view of what you raised as possible.

[Whoa_Nelly]

6. I don't think mumps has ever been 100% contained or eradicated

Smallpox was considered to be so, but never heard the same of mumps. :shrug:

[HereSince1628]

7. Measles, Mumps, Rubella vaccination is pretty standard for children

I think my kids had to prove vaccination fot it to go to elementary school.
I suspect its a matter of societal lack of concern. Same thing happened with the whooping cough in Arkansas a few years ago.

[China_cat]

8. What you have here is a case of a natural disease

reasserting itself because some people are convincing others that vaccinating their kids is a bad idea.

I feel for the males past puberty who will get it.

[rodeodance]

3. oh oh.

[mr_hat]

9. Look, if we can call BS on the flu, we ought not to >

be friggin' Henny-Pennies about this.

I live in Iowa; I have 2 school-age kids. NOBODY here is freaking out. I promise we as a state will be as Cassandric as ever come the '08 caucuses.

Thanks for your concern.

[dogday]

10. That's good to know, am just posting an article

on it.. Glad to hear you and your are ok :hi:

[mr_hat]

11. Thanks! Meant to say "bird" flu, of course. Now, if

we're talking tornados, we got us a conversation...

[Kailassa]

12. Back when I was young, every kid caught the mumps.

It was just accepted as one of the childhood diseases it was necessary to develop an immunity to.

I know from statistics that some people die of it, but I lived in several different towns, and no kid at any school I went to, and no-one else I heard of, ever died of it.

It was not considered any more serious than the flu. Mothers would take their young kids, when they were healthy enough to cope well, to visit other kids that had it, and then treat then with lemon drinks and chicken soup to get them better again.

So don't panic about this, mumps does not hurt healthy kids, and adults can always get antivirals to minimize the effect.

[lastknowngood]

13. shouldn't that say Iowa Mumps Epidemic Continues to swell

n/t