A message from MSMA President Lee Voulters, M.D.
"The current mumps outbreaks in Arizona and Oklahoma present ever more reasons why maintaining Mississippi's strong vaccination law is so important. These outbreaks grew from less than twenty cases in August to over 400 total cases under investigation in both states.
This could easily happen in Mississippi, and we thank our state legislature for protecting our children with the best childhood vaccination law in the nation."
Arkansas Mumps Outbreak Continues to Grow, 376 Total Cases Under Investigation
The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is investigating an outbreak of Mumps in northwest Arkansas with a current count of 376 cases as of September 30. There are currently
11 workplaces and 34 schools impacted. Officials are requiring students with medical exemptions for the MMR (Mumps, Measles and Rubella) vaccine to be excluded from school for 26 days from the date of exposure and until the outbreak has ended.
The MMR vaccine is safe and effective. Two doses of MMR vaccine is 88 percent effective in preventing mumps. It is a live virus vaccine and is not recommended for pregnant women or patients with a weakened immune system. Adults born before 1957 are generally considered to be immune to mumps and do not need to receive the MMR vaccine.
Visit the Arkansas Department of Health mumps update page here.
Mumps Outbreak Spreads to Oklahoma
Oklahoma health officials are now reporting a growing outbreak of mumps, with a current count of 37 total cases under investigation.
Oklahoma public health officials reported in a statement to MSMA that, "a link between the Arkansas and Oklahoma mumps outbreaks is considered very likely due to the proximity of the two states, but the epidemiologic investigation is ongoing to confirm a connection between the two outbreaks. Other outbreaks of mumps have been occurring in the Midwestern U.S. during the past 1-2 years."
Oklahoma State Department of Health: Mumps Outbreak Summary