Casbah Concertgoers May Have Been Exposed to Mumps

SAN DIEGO, CA — County health officials warned people who attended a recent concert at a popular San Diego venue that they may have been exposed to the mumps by a concertgoer who has since been diagnosed with the contagious disease.

The person, identified only as a San Diego County resident, attended the Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears concert on Sunday, Aug. 28 at the Casbah, located at 2501 Kettner Blvd. Anyone present at the club between 8:30 and 11 that evening may have been exposed to mumps and could become ill between 12 to 25 days after exposure, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency reported Friday.

“Anyone who was at the concert that evening and who shows signs of the disease should contact their health care provider by telephone before seeking care so appropriate precautions can be taken to prevent the further spread of the disease,” said Dr. Wilma Wooten, county public health officer.

Mumps is a highly contagious viral disease that is spread by coughing, sneezing or close contact with an infected person. Mumps causes a fever, headache, earache and inflammation of the salivary glands which results in swelling and tenderness at the angle of the jaw. Males past puberty may experience pain and swelling in the testicles.

Severe complications are rare, but can include meningitis, decreased fertility, permanent hearing loss and, in extreme cases, fetal loss during the first trimester of pregnancy. While there is no treatment for mumps, most people recover without problems.

The MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine is usually given to children, and is the best way to prevent getting mumps. Two doses of the vaccine are recommended — one at 12 to 15 months of age and another at 4 to 6 years of age. A third booster shot is recommended for those in close living conditions when there is an outbreak.

For more information about mumps, other vaccine-preventable diseases, and the vaccines that protect against them, call the County HHSA Immunization Program at 866-358-2966 or visit Sdiz.org.

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