CDC to investigate Kansas mumps cases

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http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/14476787.htm?source=rss & channel=kansascity_local CDC to investigate Kansas mumps cases Midwest outbreak raises questions for federal scientists By ALAN BAVLEY The Kansas City Star With 340 mumps cases now reported in Kansas, state health officials have invited the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to join the investigation of the outbreak. The Kansas cases are part of an outbreak occurring in at least nine Midwestern states. The outbreak was identified first in Iowa, where more than 1,200 cases have been reported. Six CDC representatives were expected to arrive in Topeka and Lawrence on Monday. They will look at why mumps is occurring among vaccinated people, why the outbreak is concentrated in

the Midwest and why it is occurring now. Mumps cases have been reported in 39 Kansas counties, including , Wyandotte and Leavenworth. Nearly half the cases, 162, have been in County, most of them on the University of Kansas campus. Mumps is a viral infection of the salivary glands. It is spread like a cold through coughs and sneezes or through the use of contaminated eating utensils or drinking cups. Mumps can cause fever and painful swelling around the jaw and cheeks. Complications can include meningitis, hearing loss and swelling of the testicles. To minimize the spread of the outbreak, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment recommends that people who contract mumps stay home for up to nine days after symptoms occur. The agency also advises people to check their vaccination history to make sure they have received the recommended two doses of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. To reach Alan Bavley, call (816) 234-4858 or send e-mail to abavley@... .

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