As of Sept. 6, there have been 14 confirmed and at least 59 suspected cases of the mumps in schools across northwestern Arkansas, according to THV11.
In response to the outbreak, the Arkansas Department of Health is requiring students with MMR (mumps, measles and rubella) vaccine exemptions attending schools where mumps infections have been detected to stay home from school for 26 days after the potential date of exposure. Unvaccinated students without medical exemptions who receive the recommended doses of the MMR vaccine can return to school immediately following immunization.
"Mumps is easily spread from person to person," said Dirk Haselow, MD, PhD, state epidemiologist and outbreak response medical director for ADH. "We expect to see more cases in the coming weeks. We urge Arkansans to make sure that they and their loved ones are up-to-date on the MMR vaccine."
Mumps is a contagious disease caused by a virus that typically begins with a fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness and loss of appetite. These symptoms typically persist for a few days and are followed by swollen salivary glands.
To learn more about the mumps and the MMR vaccine, click here.
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