Myrtue Medical News Release

Iowans Urged to Get Mumps Vaccinations

State-wide campaign seeks to reduce mumps spread

April 20, 2006

Iowa has had over 900 cases of mumps this year, including seven Shelby County residents with confirmed cases of the mumps. Many of Iowa's counties are seeing mumps cases as well.

Most of these cases of mumps have been in young adults (18-22 years old). The Iowa Department of Public Health, and its local public health partners, has announced a statewide campaign to vaccinate those at high risk of mumps. The 35 counties that have main college campuses will focus on vaccinating college students. Non-students ages 18-22 are urged to get vaccinated, as well.

Locally, the Shelby County Public Health Nursing Department urges anyone who has not had the disease, or who has not already received two doses of the MMR vaccine, to get vaccinated. Vaccination is the best protection against mumps disease. Vaccine for adults, over age 18, is available at the Myrtue Medical Center Rural Health Clinic in Harlan. Women who are pregnant should not receive the vaccine. However, women who are breastfeeding can receive the vaccine. The mumps vaccine, part of the MMR shot, is 95 percent effective in protecting against mumps, after two doses. Iowa children are vaccinated against the mumps at age one and require a second dose before they enter school.

Mumps is a viral infection spread through coughing, sneezing and saliva. Symptoms including swelling of the glands close to the jaw, fever, headache and muscle aches. For most people, mumps is mild to moderate disease. Serious complications are rare. People can also help reduce the spread of mumps and other illnesses by practicing good hygiene, such as covering your coughs and sneezes, not sharing eating or drinking utensils, washing your hands frequently, and staying home when sick.

More information about mumps is available on the Iowa Department of Public Health website, www.idph.state.ia.us. For questions please contact the Public Health Nursing Department at Myrtue Medical Center at 712-755-4422.