Zero mumps cases here after Spokane outbreak

A mumps outbreak in Spokane has put local health officials on alert, Public Health Director Troy Henderson reported to the Whitman County commissioners Monday.

“Officially, Whitman County is at zero,” said Henderson. “There is a heightened sense of concern out there.”

The state mumps outbreak started in western Washington late last year and moved its way into Spokane County by December. As of Jan. 26, the Washington State Department of Health reported 301 cases statewide, the majority of those centered in King County with 163 cases.

The Spokane Regional Health District reported 100 cases in Spokane County as of Jan. 30.

Henderson told commissioners Monday three “rule-out” cases were reported in Pullman last week.

“One of them tested positive for the flu, and the other two were not tested but were more than likely flu,” said Henderson.

The flu and mumps present similar symptoms, he said, with the major difference being swelling of salivary glands, which is seen in mumps cases. Henderson said the individual who tested positive for the flu also had the swollen salivary glands, but did not test positive for mumps. The other two were not tested because their salivary glands were not swollen.

Henderson did say there has been an increase in flu cases in the county recently.

“We've had a big spike in flu cases in about the last 12 days to two weeks ago,” he said. “It's kind of unfortunate that we have the flu outbreak at the same time as there's a heightened sense of awareness about the mumps. It complicates the process a little bit.”

Henderson added that the individual who tested positive for the flu was born prior to 1957. That population bracket, he said, is usually considered immune to mumps.

“If they were born prior to 1957, we're less likely to see mumps in that age group because they are usually immune because they already had the mumps,” he said.

Henderson said school districts in the county have been preparing in the event mumps reach the county.

“School nurses especially are required to keep a running list of all students who are not up to date on vaccines,” he said, noting if a student is not vaccinated that they can be withheld from school in the event of an outbreak at a school. He said a school is considered to have an outbreak after two cases have been reported in the same building.

Henderson also reported that school nurses are directing teachers and staff to pharmacies where they can receive a mumps vaccine free of charge, and some have taken advantage of that.

“Vaccination is still the number one way to prevent communicable diseases,” he said.

A vaccine, though, does not guarantee immunity.

According to the Spokane Regional Health District website, of the 100 confirmed cases of mumps, 66 were in individuals who were vaccinated.

“If you do get it when you've been vaccinated, it will be milder than if you had not been vaccinated,” said Henderson. “It also makes it harder to spread.”

The Spokane Regional Health District also reported that 24 of the cases were in children aged 0-9, 52 aged 10-19, 12 aged 20-29, seven aged 30-39, four aged 40-49 and one aged 50-59.

Mumps symptoms include swelling and pain in the jaw, with one or both cheeks possibly swollen, a fever, headache, ear ache, sore throat, pain when swallowing or opening mouth, pain when eating or drinking sour foods or liquids, fatigue, a poor appetite and testicular pain in males and pelvic discomfort in females.

In addition to King and Spokane counties, confirmed cases have been seen in Ferry, Grant, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston and Yakima counties.