Texas Cheerleader Convention May Have Spread Mumps

The State of Texas is warning anyone who attended a cheerleading competition in Dallas on February 23-25, 2018, may have been exposed to mumps.

A person with mumps attended the National Cheerleaders Association All-Star National Championship, said Chris Van Deusen, with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DHSH).

The National Cheerleaders Association reported 23,655 athletes and 2,600 coaches from 39 different states and 9 countries attended this event, which was held at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.

During January 2018, 25 states in the U.S. reported mumps infections in 130 people to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

On October 25, 2017, the CDC recommended that persons previously vaccinated with two doses of MMR who are identified by public health as being at high-risk for mumps during an outbreak should receive a third dose of MMR.

The mumps component of the MMR vaccine is about 88% effective when a person gets two doses, and one dose is about 78% effective, says the CDC.

The Texas DHSH sent a letter to those who participated in the competition, to let them know that they or their children may have been exposed to the virus.

Mumps is a viral illness caused by a paramyxovirus, a member of the Rubulavirus family. The average incubation period for mumps is 16 to 18 days, with a range of 12 to 25 days, says the CDC.

The Texas health department is urging people to watch for symptoms, including swollen or tender salivary glands, swollen or tender testicles, low-grade fever, tiredness, and muscle aches.

Swelling is first visible in front of the lower part of the ear. It then extends downward and forward as fluid builds up in the skin and soft tissue of the face and neck. Swelling usually peaks in 1 to 3 days and then subsides during the next week.

Two recent studies evaluated the third dose of MMR vaccine and demonstrated a significant protection increase after 1 month after vaccination, reports the CDC.

However, the antibody titers declined to near baseline by 1 year after vaccination.

In the USA, Merck is the manufacturer of two mumps vaccinations. MMR and ProQuad both contain the protection for mumps, as well as protection against measles and rubella.

The CDC Vaccine Price List provides the private sector vaccine prices for general information.

Most pharmacies offer the MMR vaccine, and vaccine discounts can be found here.