Increasing Mumps Outbreak in Oklahoma and Arkansas

Mumps outbreak in Arkansas and Oklahoma is on the rise.

A mumps outbreak has gripped the states of Oklahoma and Arkansas and doesn’t show any signs of relenting. As of yet, there have been over 70 cases in Oklahoma, while Arkansas has seen 476 cases in three counties.

According to a recent report from the Oklahoma State Department of Health, a total of 70 cases of mumps were reported. Two cases were found in Kay County while the rest of 68 are located in Garfield County. The investigation of health officials found eight out of ten patients were vaccinated. The rest of 20 per cent of cases were not vaccinated or their status is currently unknown.

Arkansas has a much higher count of people infected with the mumps. The lab confirmed or suspected cases total to 476. Three counties are main grounds of the mumps outbreak: Benton, Washington, and Madison. The outbreak has affected 13 workplaces and even three school districts. This includes more than 30 schools statewide with one or more students with the mumps.

Mumps outbreaks are caused by the mumps virus. It can be found in saliva, in the nose, and throat fluid. The virus is very contagious and spreads through coughing, sneezing or most effectively, through direct contact with throat and nose secretions. Even talking close enough to another person, or sharing eating utensils can spread the mumps virus.

The most common mumps symptoms include swelling on either one or both sides of the faces, inflamed salivary glands in the cheek and jaw area, headaches, fever, and muscle pain. In some cases, you can experience a loss of appetite. If infection occurs after puberty, it can lead to swelled testicles.

In more severe and rare cases, mumps can cause meningitis or even encephalitis, which is the inflammation of the brain. If women in the first three months of pregnancy are infected they can risk a miscarriage.

According to the CDC, the MMR vaccine is safe and effective. Two doses of the vaccine are 88% effective at preventing the disease, while one dose is 78% effective. Additionally, if you live in areas with a mumps outbreak avoid sharing food and drinks and maintain the regular standard of hygiene. If infected, then stay at home until you get the MMR vaccine.

Have you been infected with the mumps?

Image source: Wikimedia

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Karen Jackson

Karen Jackson has always been passionate about technology. All the way through high-school she immersed herself in computers and web-design. Her ambitious nature helped her become a pro in Adobe Photoshop only by watching online videos and working with the program herself. This is also the program that she mostly uses in the creation of websites at her work-place. Technological innovation and gadgets that push the boundaries of what we are comfortable with have always fascinated her, so expect to see some weird gadget reviews coming from her.