Johnson Country officials warned all parents to have a second mumps vaccine shot for their kids even if they are just in pre-Kindergarten aged. This is because many cases of mumps are reported in the county that involve school-aged children. Denton, Dallas, Collin and Tarrant counties have also reported mumps cases, but Johnson County has been hit the hardest.
Children Need A Second Mumps Vaccine, Health Officials Warned
Parents should get a second mumps vaccine shot for their kids even if they are pre-Kindergarten aged, health officials in Johnson County have recommended. According to Asian Tribune, at least 36 cases of mumps reported in the county involve school-aged children. The total number of children infected by the disease has jumped to 48. Denton, Dallas, Collin and Tarrant counties have also reported mumps cases, but Johnson County has been hit the hardest.
In Cleburne, employees at Grumps restaurant said that they have been instructed to constantly scrub counters and tables and use hand sanitizer many times an hour. This is to warn all people that the mumps disease has become a real fear throughout the county. “I still hear about it on a day-to-day basis,” said server Chandler White. At first, he said, people are thinking that the mumps outbreak are just hoax, "Oh my God! This is not a hoax."
In Dallas, eight adults reported having mumps. Six were all tied to the same Halloween party. But all those adults had been vaccinated, as reported by CBS DFW. Health officials say it’s important adults talk to their doctors about a booster shot. “In regard to what’s going on in Dallas County, we’re seeing across the country, the last time we had something similar was back in 2006,” said Christopher Perkins with Dallas County Health and Human Services.
Understanding Mumps And Mumps Vaccine
As Kiro7 described it, mumps is an illness caused by a virus that can cause fever, headache, and swelling of the cheeks and jaw. Most people recover from mumps in a few weeks. In rare cases, mumps can lead to more serious complications that may require hospitalization, including inflammation of the brain and spinal cord and deafness. Up to 30% of people with mumps infection will have no symptoms.
Mumps vaccines are vaccines which prevent mumps. When given to a majority of the population they decrease complications at the population level. Effectiveness when 90% of a population is vaccinated is estimated at 85%. Two doses are required for long term prevention. The initial dose is recommended between the age of 12 and 18 months of age. The second dose is than typically given between two years and six years of age. Usage after exposure in those not already immune may be useful.
