Third Mumps Case Confirmed at Jacobs High

ALGONQUIN, IL - A third student at Jacobs High School has contracted mumps, school officials said Tuesday. The most recent student to test positive for mumps has been out of school since May 14, Superintendent Fred Heid wrote in a letter to parents wrote. He said there is little chance other students were exposed during the period of time the student was contagious.

"All three students are doing well and are recovering. I am also pleased to share that we have not received any reports of additional cases or illnesses related to the mumps for the last two weeks," Heid wrote in his letter to parents. "At present, this seems to be limited to only the initial three students at Jacobs."

Any Jacobs' students who have not been vaccinated will not be allowed to attend school for the rest of the year, Heid said.

"The administration and staff will work with the students and their families to address any issues or concerns with remaining assignments or final exams," Heid said.

School officials learned of the first mumps case on May 15.

• Mumps Case Confirmed at Jacobs High School
  

Heid's full letter to parents can be found below:

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We have received confirmation that a third Jacobs High School student who had been awaiting test results has tested positive for mumps.

The student has been out of school since May 14th and, as a result, there is minimal chance that other students were exposed during the period of time that he may have been contagious.

All three students are doing well and are recovering. I am also pleased to share that we have not received any reports of additional cases or illnesses related to the mumps for the last two weeks. At present, this seems to be limited to only the initial three students at Jacobs.

At this time, the Health Department has directed us to exclude any unvaccinated student at Jacobs High School for the remainder of the school year. The administration and staff will work with the students and their families to address any issues or concerns with remaining assignments or final exams.

The Health Department confirmed that there is no concern or risk for anyone attending an event or being in a facility where the mumps has been confirmed. The mumps are not spread through casual contact with surfaces or a facility. It is only spread through the direct contact with saliva (cough, sneeze, or shared cups/utensils).

According to the Health Department, “Mumps is an acute viral illness that is spread person to person by droplets from the mouth, nose, or throat of an infected individual. Symptoms of mumps include: fever, headache, myaligia, fatigue, loss of appetite and is followed by parotitis (swollen and tender salivary glands under the ears on one or both sides). Mumps is contagious 2 days prior to the onset of parotitis until 5 days after the onset of parotitis.”

District 300 will continue to address this issue proactively. This includes the manner in which we clean and disinfect our facilities and busses.

I want to thank you for your patience. I understand how this can cause concern. I hope that our regular communications and updates have helped clarify any questions you may have had while also providing assurances as to what steps we have taken to address this issue and limit possible exposure to others.

Sincerely,

Fred Heid
Superintendent

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