Suspected Cases of Mumps Continue to Crop Up in Lake Co.

LAKE COUNTY, IL - As more suspected cases of mumps continue to crop up in Lake County, health officials District 220 school officials in Barrington are organizing a vaccination clinic for early next week.

The mumps outbreak, which started with one confirmed case at Barrington High School last week, has grown to three total confirmed cases at the high school. In addition, an adult in the Barrington community has contracted the contagious disease and several more probable and suspected cases have been reported throughout Lake County, including cases at Libertyville High School and in Lake Zurich, Tower Lakes and Lake Forest. Here is a look at the breakdown of confirmed, suspected and probable cases:

• One confirmed in the Barrington community
• Three confirmed at Barrington High School and seven probable and 12 suspected
• One probable and four suspected cases at Station Middle School in Barrington
• Five suspected cases at Prairie Campus School in Barrington
• One suspected case at Libertyville High School
• One probable case in the Lake Zurich community that is related to a confirmed case in Barrington, 1 suspected case in Lake Forest and 1 in Tower Lakes that are unrelated to the other cases.

In response to the mumps outbreak at Barrington High School, the Health Department and School District 220 are organizing a clinic for staff, faculty and students affiliated with the high school to take place early next week, according to a news release.

The health department is recommending a second dose of measles, mumps, rubella vaccine (MMR) for those who have only received one dose, and one dose for those individuals born before 1957. The vaccination clinic is closed to the public and the media to respect the privacy of those being vaccinated.

“The vaccine against mumps is extremely effective and usually produces long lasting immunity,” said Mark Pfister, the Health Department’s executive director. “While no vaccine is 100-percent effective, it is important for those who can be vaccinated to take this extra step and help protect those around them.”

Mumps is a serious contagious disease passed through saliva and respiratory secretions, according to health officials. This disease is spread by droplets of saliva or mucus from the mouth, nose or throat of an infected person, usually when the person coughs, sneezes or talks.

Up to half of people who get mumps have very mild or no symptoms, and therefore do not know they were infected with mumps. The most common symptoms include: fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, loss of appetite, swollen and tender salivary glands under the ears on one or both sides (parotitis).

In addition to the MMR vaccine, it is important to practice good health and hygiene habits to reduce the spread of disease, including washing your hands frequently with soap and water, not sharing eating utensils, drinking cups, or cigarettes, sanitizing frequently touched surfaces, and minimizing close contact with other people when sick.

Complications from mumps, although rare, can include inflammation of the testicles, ovaries, breasts and/or brain. People with mumps are considered contagious typically two days before until five days after parotid swelling. Those with symptoms should stay home and contact their health care provider.

MORE ON PATCH

• Mumps Outbreak Confirmed at Barrington High; More Probable Cases Reported in Lake Co.
• More Mumps Cases Reported in Lake County