Mumps Epidemic Includes 2/3 with TWO doses of MMR

EXCERPT: Iowa's public health department reports that the vaccination
records of 163 mumps patients have been investigated.

Of those patients, more than two-thirds (68%) had gotten two doses of
the MMR vaccine, 13% had gotten one dose, 5% had gotten no doses, and
15% had uncertain vaccine status, states the CDC.

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/120/113902.htm

April 05, 2006


April 4, 2006 -- Iowa is experiencing an epidemic of mumps, a viral
infection usually made rare by vaccination.

Iowa's public health department reports 300 confirmed, probable, or
suspected cases of mumps through April 3.

That's a "dramatic increase," Iowa public health officials say in a
letter to Iowa health care facilities. Since 2001, the U.S. has
averaged 265 mumps cases per year, with five of those cases in Iowa,
according to the CDC.

"We don't know why this is occurring," CDC spokeswoman Lola Russell
tells WebMD. The CDC is investigating the epidemic, Russell says.

The CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, published on March
28, also notes 14 possible mumps cases in three neighboring states (11
in Illinois, two in Nebraska, and one in Minnesota).

Health officials recommend that people complete their two regular
doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. Iowa patients are
also being asked to isolate themselves for five days after symptoms
start, but Iowa isn't quarantining people who may have been exposed to
mumps.

"Permanent, long-term health impacts from mumps, while they can occur,
are rare. Most people get over mumps with no problems after a couple
of days of home rest," Russell says.

Mumps in Iowa

Iowa's strain of mumps isn't rare, according to the web site of Iowa's
public health department. The same strain was seen in a mumps outbreak
in the U.K. that peaked in 2005, Russell says.

Mumps-like illness was seen in December 2005 at an unnamed university
in eastern Iowa. Several students with swollen glands were screened
for mumps; two tested positive, the CDC states.

Another case from an unrelated Iowa patient was seen in January 2006.
By mid-February, experts were watching out for mumps in seven Iowa
regions, including at the state's three largest universities.

Iowa patients were about 21 years old, on average. About 20% were
college students.

The illness lasted for an average of five days. The most common
symptoms were swollen glands in the head and neck, fever, headache,
and sore throat.

Vaccinated or Not?

Iowa's public health department reports that the vaccination records
of 163 mumps patients have been investigated.

Of those patients, more than two-thirds (68%) had gotten two doses of
the MMR vaccine, 13% had gotten one dose, 5% had gotten no doses, and
15% had uncertain vaccine status, states the CDC.

In 1977, Iowa required one dose of the MMR vaccine for all children
entering public schools. That requirement rose to two doses in 1991.

"Mumps should not be ruled out in someone who is vaccinated if they
have symptoms clinically consistent with mumps," Iowa public health
officials wrote in their letter to the state's health care facilities.

However, Iowa's health department still recommends MMR vaccination for
all susceptible people. "The MMR vaccine is 95% effective," Russell
says.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SOURCES: CDC, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, March 30, 2006;
vol 55: pp 1-3 (dispatch). Iowa Department of Public Health: "Mumps
Fact Sheet." Iowa Department of Public Health: "Iowa Mumps Update
Through Monday, April 3, 2006." Lola Russell, spokeswoman, CDC. Iowa
Department of Public Health: "Dear Health Care Facility," March 16,
2006. Iowa Department of Public Health: "Iowa Mumps Activity -
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers, March 27, 2006." Iowa
Department of Public Health: "Summary and Laboratory Guidance on
Mumps," March 8, 2006.


~~~~~

www.BreastImplantAwareness.org/



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Ilena wrote in message ...
EXCERPT: Iowa's public health department reports that the vaccination
records of 163 mumps patients have been investigated.

Of those patients, more than two-thirds (68%) had gotten two doses of
the MMR vaccine, 13% had gotten one dose, 5% had gotten no doses, and
15% had uncertain vaccine status, states the CDC.

Imagine how bad it would be if no one in Iowa had any vaccines?

Don't forget, vaccination is NOT 100% effective.

Jeff


http://www.webmd.com/content/article/120/113902.htm

April 05, 2006


April 4, 2006 -- Iowa is experiencing an epidemic of mumps, a viral
infection usually made rare by vaccination.

Iowa's public health department reports 300 confirmed, probable, or
suspected cases of mumps through April 3.

That's a "dramatic increase," Iowa public health officials say in a
letter to Iowa health care facilities. Since 2001, the U.S. has
averaged 265 mumps cases per year, with five of those cases in Iowa,
according to the CDC.

"We don't know why this is occurring," CDC spokeswoman Lola Russell
tells WebMD. The CDC is investigating the epidemic, Russell says.

The CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, published on March
28, also notes 14 possible mumps cases in three neighboring states (11
in Illinois, two in Nebraska, and one in Minnesota).

Health officials recommend that people complete their two regular
doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. Iowa patients are
also being asked to isolate themselves for five days after symptoms
start, but Iowa isn't quarantining people who may have been exposed to
mumps.

"Permanent, long-term health impacts from mumps, while they can occur,
are rare. Most people get over mumps with no problems after a couple
of days of home rest," Russell says.

Mumps in Iowa

Iowa's strain of mumps isn't rare, according to the web site of Iowa's
public health department. The same strain was seen in a mumps outbreak
in the U.K. that peaked in 2005, Russell says.

Mumps-like illness was seen in December 2005 at an unnamed university
in eastern Iowa. Several students with swollen glands were screened
for mumps; two tested positive, the CDC states.

Another case from an unrelated Iowa patient was seen in January 2006.
By mid-February, experts were watching out for mumps in seven Iowa
regions, including at the state's three largest universities.

Iowa patients were about 21 years old, on average. About 20% were
college students.

The illness lasted for an average of five days. The most common
symptoms were swollen glands in the head and neck, fever, headache,
and sore throat.

Vaccinated or Not?

Iowa's public health department reports that the vaccination records
of 163 mumps patients have been investigated.

Of those patients, more than two-thirds (68%) had gotten two doses of
the MMR vaccine, 13% had gotten one dose, 5% had gotten no doses, and
15% had uncertain vaccine status, states the CDC.

In 1977, Iowa required one dose of the MMR vaccine for all children
entering public schools. That requirement rose to two doses in 1991.

"Mumps should not be ruled out in someone who is vaccinated if they
have symptoms clinically consistent with mumps," Iowa public health
officials wrote in their letter to the state's health care facilities.

However, Iowa's health department still recommends MMR vaccination for
all susceptible people. "The MMR vaccine is 95% effective," Russell
says.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SOURCES: CDC, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, March 30, 2006;
vol 55: pp 1-3 (dispatch). Iowa Department of Public Health: "Mumps
Fact Sheet." Iowa Department of Public Health: "Iowa Mumps Update
Through Monday, April 3, 2006." Lola Russell, spokeswoman, CDC. Iowa
Department of Public Health: "Dear Health Care Facility," March 16,
2006. Iowa Department of Public Health: "Iowa Mumps Activity -
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers, March 27, 2006." Iowa
Department of Public Health: "Summary and Laboratory Guidance on
Mumps," March 8, 2006.


~~~~~

www.BreastImplantAwareness.org/



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