A child at the Pennsbury School District’s Pennwood Middle School appears to have come down with mumps.
The school district released the news in a communication to parents and staff on Friday.
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Bucks County Health Director Dr. David Damsker told LevittownNow.com that the Pennwood student appears to have mumps, but his office is awaiting the lab results for final confirmation.
The case marks the first reported one in the county since a flare-up of more than 100 cases at Temple University in Philadelphia. Those cases first were noticed in February and have since spread around the region.
The Pennwood student, according to sources, has a relative who attends Temple University.
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“Mumps is a contagious disease that is caused by a virus. It typically starts with a few days of fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite. Then most people will have swelling of their salivary glands. This is what causes the puffy cheeks and a tender, swollen jaw,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The illness that was once nearly eradicated in the United States can cause numerous complications, including inflammation of the testicles in males who have reached puberty, inflammation of the ovaries and/or breast tissue, inflammation in the pancreas (pancreatitis), inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), inflammation of the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord (meningitis), and deafness. It has not been proven that inflammation of the testicles or inflammation of the ovaries caused by mumps has been shown to lead to infertility, but it can cause problems, the CDC notes in documentation.
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The Bucks County Department of Health released the following information in a letter to Pennsbury parents:
Mumps is a viral infection characterized by a non-specific illness including muscle aches, decrease in appetite, tiredness, headache, and fever followed by the sudden onset of tender swelling of the parotid (glands located under the ear and above the jaw bone) or other salivary glands.
Mumps is spread via saliva and respiratory secretions. The average time from when a person is exposed to the time they develop symptoms (the incubation period) is 16 to 18 days. Incubation can range, however, anywhere from 12 to 25 days. All persons are advised to avoid sharing utensils, drinks, food, cellphones, and other electronic devices. Wash hands often, using soap and water.
There is no cure for a mumps viral infection. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that ALL children receive two doses of the MMR vaccine to promote immunity against mumps. If your child is not vaccinated, or is incompletely vaccinated for mumps, please contact your physician or health care provider.
Mumps has mainly been tamed by the MMR vaccine that kids get. The vaccine is designed to prevent against mumps, measles, and rubella.
“Even though the vaccine has drastically reduced mumps cases, outbreaks still occur. Outbreaks have most commonly occurred among groups of people who have prolonged, close contact, such as sharing water bottles or cups, kissing, practicing sports together, or living in close quarters, with a person who has mumps. Some vaccinated people may still get mumps if they are exposed to the virus. However, disease symptoms are milder in vaccinated people,” the CDC said.
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Damsker said the MMR vaccine comes in two doses and a third might be wise for those concerned about coming down with mumps.
Researchers at Harvard University have said that college students may benefit from a third booster shot at 18.
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No MMR vaccine clinics have been planned for Bucks County, Damsker said.
Bucks County has seen mumps cases in recent years, Damsker said, but they are rare and often associated with global travel.
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The fringe anti-vaccination movement’s growth over the years through the backing of misleading websites and celebrities has led to an increase of rare but once common illnesses returning. Among then, mumps, measles, and whooping cough have been on the rise across the county.
Damsker said recent outbreaks of rare illnesses point to the significance of so-called “herd immunity” that is based on a large percentage of the population being immunized against preventable diseases. He added that he supports allowing only medical exemptions from vaccines.
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“The people of Bucks County need to make sure you and your kids are up to date on vaccines,” he said.
