December 30, 2014
Suffolk County Commissioner of Health Services Dr. James Tomarken reported today a case of Mumps in an individual who lives in the Town of Brookhaven and works at Smithtown High School East. The case was confirmed this week by the New York State Public Health Laboratory in Albany.
The individual, who is over 25 years of age, experienced symptoms consistent with Mumps early in December. The individual visited a health care provider who diagnosed Mumps and advised him to remain home until the individual was no longer infectious.
The Department of Health Services is investigating the case to determine if anyone was exposed to Mumps during the infectious period. Persons with mumps are usually considered most infectious from 1-2 days before until 5 days after onset of parotitis (swelling of the salivary gland under the ears or jaw on one or both sides of the face).
“We are not currently aware of any other cases of Mumps in Suffolk County,” said Dr. Tomarken. “Most children have received the required Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine, so we do not anticipate widespread infection. Our intent is to inform the community and stress the importance of vaccination.”
Dr. Shaheda Iftikhar, Director of Public Health, advises parents to encourage good hygiene practices and to contact their health care practitioners if their children develop symptoms consistent with Mumps.
Mumps is usually spread by mucus or droplets from the nose or throat from an infected person, when the infected person coughs or sneezes. Mumps can also spread through surfaces that have come in contact with these infected droplets.
The symptoms of Mumps may include fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, loss of appetite and swollen, tender salivary glands. Other less common complications can include swelling of the testicles, ovaries and/or breasts, and meningitis.
The CDC recommends staying home for 5 days after the onset of salivary gland swelling, at which point Mumps is no longer considered to be contagious. The incubation time (how long it takes for symptoms to appear after a person is exposed to the virus) can range from 12-25 days. For those individuals who may have been exposed to this case in the school setting, the incubation period has ended.
The New York State Department of Health, Suffolk County confirmed one case of Mumps in each of the years 2010, 2011, and 2013 and no cases of Mumps in 2012.
For additional information regarding Mumps, visit the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control website, www.cdc.gov/mumps, or call the Suffolk County Department of Health Services at 631-854-0333 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.
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