More Mumps Cases Confirmed in Rio Grande Valley

The Hidalgo County Health Department (HCHD) said 5 of 18 ‘under investigation cases’ have been confirmed as the mumps virus by laboratory tests.

These 5 new cases increase the total number of confirmed mumps cases near Mission, Texas outbreak to 6 during April 2019.

And, 13 of the remaining suspected mumps cases had contact with 1 or more persons who have or had the mumps virus, the HCHD press release stated. 

The initial mumps case was discovered by the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, on April 3, 2019. And, may be related to a Mission, Texas athletic club. 

"Complications from mumps are rare and cases are usually mild," said Hidalgo County Health and Human Services Director Eduardo Olivarez. 

The HCHD has notified physicians and healthcare workers in south Texas to test patients who are showing mumps symptoms. 

Officials also said that people who were recently vaccinated for mumps may still contract the mumps. 

Moreover, HCHD said ‘if you haven’t been vaccinated, officials suggest that you get vaccinated.’ 

Mumps is a vaccine-preventable disease caused by a virus. Mumps can be prevented with 2 doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

However, waning of vaccine-induced immunity over time after receipt of the second vaccine dose in high-intensity exposure settings, such as college campuses, contributes to this higher risk for mumps disease, says the CDC. 

In the USA, most pharmacies offer mumps vaccination services. And, mumps vaccine discounts can be found at GoodRx. 

Relevant Links:  CDC Vaccination Schedules, CDC Price List, Report Vaccine Side Effects, International Travel Alerts.