vaccination

Washington Mumps Outbreak Affecting Vaccinated Children

As of February 8, 2017, 404 cases of the mumps have been diagnosed in Washington state, with 176 patients located in King county. The majority of cases have been in school-aged children, 87% of whom were up to date on their mumps vaccinations, according to Washington’s State immunization program.1,2

The state health department has been attempting to control the outbreak since late October, and is encouraging anyone with symptoms to remain at home, and everyone to get vaccinated to reduce the spread of mumps.3
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The spread of the outbreak has been attributed to lower vaccine rates as the vaccine is only 88% effective at preventing mumps in children who received the full 2 doses, and 78% in children who only received 1 dose, and when children are not vaccinated it can increase the risk for the virus to spread in vaccinated children.3

The state health department is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine if the strain of virus has changed at the DNA level. In addition, healthcare providers are being educated on the early signs of the disease, as many had never seen mumps in patients before now.

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

  1. ABC. Mumps outbreak reaches 367 cases in Washington state. February 7, 2017. ABC7Chicago.com. http://abc7chicago.com/news/mumps-outbreak-reaches-367-cases-in-washington-state/1742535/.
  2. Washington State Department of Health. Mumps Outbreak. http://www.doh.wa.gov/YouandYourFamily/IllnessandDisease/Mumps/MumpsOutbreak. Updated February 8, 2017. Accessed February 13, 2017.
  3. Washington State Department of Health. Mumps cases in state now affecting two counties; health officials urge immunization [press release]. Olympia, Washington. December 9, 2016. http://www.doh.wa.gov/Newsroom/2016NewsReleases/16142MumpsInWANewsRelease.