Mumps outbreak slowing down
Posted: Wednesday, August 02, 2006
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- The return of the school year and autumn could revive a mumps outbreak that's been losing steam.
The number of cases has been declining steadily the past five weeks, in line with the historical pattern that shows fewer mumps cases in summer, said Lon Kightlinger, epidemiologist in the state Department of Health.
"Diseases have cycles. It probably has to do with climate and weather -- maybe the time that people spend indoors," he said. "We're hoping that means the outbreak is over, but all states are preparing for the possibility that it might return."
There have been nearly 300 confirmed or probable cases in South Dakota's first mumps outbreak in 15 years. Brown County has the most cases with 37, followed by Minnehaha with 25, Pennington with 23, and Charles Mix and Yankton with 21 each.
"If we can go 50 days without a new case reported, then we'll say it's probably behind us," Kightlinger said.
The characteristic symptom of mumps is swollen salivary glands. Someone with mumps is contagious for up to two days before showing symptoms and up to four days after symptoms are obvious. It is spread through respiratory droplets expelled into the air by coughing, sneezing or talking.
The Health Department provided 14,500 vaccinations during special immunization clinics.
Just over 3,200 shots were given at universities and technical schools, another 5,100 to staff and faculty at K-12 schools, and another 3,000 at adjustment training centers and state facilities. Vaccinations were given to 2,310 people who had direct contact with someone who was infected.
Kightlinger said he had expected many more cases in South Dakota, based on what happened in Iowa, which had more than 1,900 confirmed or possible cases.
"That may have something to do with the seasonality of it. Most of Iowa's cases were in winter and early spring, and we started in late spring. We were fairly lucky because the first cases reported here were in the end of April, just a few weeks before college got out. It maybe didn't have time to get circulating."
The number of cases has been declining steadily the past five weeks, in line with the historical pattern that shows fewer mumps cases in summer, said Lon Kightlinger, epidemiologist in the state Department of Health.
"Diseases have cycles. It probably has to do with climate and weather -- maybe the time that people spend indoors," he said. "We're hoping that means the outbreak is over, but all states are preparing for the possibility that it might return."
There have been nearly 300 confirmed or probable cases in South Dakota's first mumps outbreak in 15 years. Brown County has the most cases with 37, followed by Minnehaha with 25, Pennington with 23, and Charles Mix and Yankton with 21 each.
"If we can go 50 days without a new case reported, then we'll say it's probably behind us," Kightlinger said.
The characteristic symptom of mumps is swollen salivary glands. Someone with mumps is contagious for up to two days before showing symptoms and up to four days after symptoms are obvious. It is spread through respiratory droplets expelled into the air by coughing, sneezing or talking.
The Health Department provided 14,500 vaccinations during special immunization clinics.
Just over 3,200 shots were given at universities and technical schools, another 5,100 to staff and faculty at K-12 schools, and another 3,000 at adjustment training centers and state facilities. Vaccinations were given to 2,310 people who had direct contact with someone who was infected.
Kightlinger said he had expected many more cases in South Dakota, based on what happened in Iowa, which had more than 1,900 confirmed or possible cases.
"That may have something to do with the seasonality of it. Most of Iowa's cases were in winter and early spring, and we started in late spring. We were fairly lucky because the first cases reported here were in the end of April, just a few weeks before college got out. It maybe didn't have time to get circulating."
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