South Texas Mumps Outbreak Reaches 39 Cases

Hidalgo County, Texas is confirming a “2nd wave” of mumps virus cases in 2019, which increases the total to 39 individuals, reported The Monitor.  

Four of these 39 confirmed cases were staff members at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Edinburg campus. 

Moreover, local health officials are forecasting future ‘waves’ of mumps cases in 2019. 

Hidalgo County Health and Human Services Director Eduardo “Eddie” Olivarez, told The Monitor on May 7th ‘that because the cases are spread across the county, health officials are expecting to see a “third wave” of mumps cases because it can take 14 to 24 days for symptoms to appear after someone is exposed to the virus. 

Olivarez also emphasized that ‘the Hidalgo County mumps outbreak is not related to the increase of migrants passing through the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.’ 

Previously, various U.S. Customs and Border Protection (ICE) facilities in Texas had reported mumps outbreaks during 2019. 

Additionally, Olivarez continued saying, ‘they're working on combating this mumps issue through a push for the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccination.’

Mumps is a vaccine-preventable disease caused by a Rubulavirus, which is in the Paramyxovirus family.

Mumps can be prevented with 2 doses of the MMR vaccine, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Lauren Ragan, PharmD and Immunization Specialist for Brookshire Grocery Company said, “Please see your doctor or pharmacist to discuss which vaccines you may need to receive especially if you live near an on-going mumps outbreak.” 

In Texas, most pharmacies and health clinics offer MMR vaccination services.

And, mumps vaccine discounts can be found at Vaccine Discounts.

Relevant Links:  CDC vaccination schedules, CDC price list, how to report vaccine side effects, and international travel alerts.