The Wasatch County Health Department has identified a suspected case of mumps in a fully-immunized student at Old Mill Elementary School that occurred between May 6-13, 2019. Wasatch County School District’s Health Services Department was notified by the parents of the student’s situation on Wednesday, May 15, after receiving information from their physician’s office. Upon notification and per District protocol, the District Nurse collaborated with the Health Department to determine the status of the case and the appropriate actions to take. Based on criteria established by the Utah Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Health Department classified this as a suspected case of mumps.
Due to the nature of the case being both isolated and suspected, the Wasatch County Health Department has recommended no students be excluded from school at this point. District personnel and the Wasatch County Health Department will continue to closely monitor the situation and notify parents/guardians immediately of any changes to this recommendation.
Mumps is a viral illness with an incubation period of 16-18 days. Due to the timeline of the possible exposure, the District is suggesting parents/guardians at the affected school monitor their children over the next two weeks for the signs and symptoms of mumps, including:
• Pain, tenderness, and swelling in one or both cheek or jaw areas
• Swelling, usually peaking in 1-3 days and then subsiding during the next week
• Low-grade fever lasting 3-4 days
• Difficulty eating
• Tiredness
• Headache
Anyone experiencing swelling of the cheek or jaw in combination with any of the above symptoms should call their healthcare provider immediately, and should notify them of the symptoms prior to arriving.
The best method of prevention for mumps is via the MMR vaccine. Those who wish to ensure they are fully immunized may do so either through their local health department or healthcare provider. As a note, mumps should not be mistaken for the widely publicized virus, measles. There are currently no confirmed or suspected cases of measles in Utah.
