Mumps Case Reported at Fremd High School

A Fremd High School student has been diagnosed with mumps, according to high school officials.

The high school notified the Cook County Department of Public Health regarding the diagnosis on Jan. 12 and the following letter from Principal Kurt Tenopir was sent out to parents:

This letter is to inform you that one of our students has been diagnosed with the mumps virus. Mumps is an infectious disease caused by the virus paramyxovirus. Before the routine vaccination program was introduced in the United States, mumps was a common illness in infants, children, and young adults. Because most people have now been vaccinated, mumps is now a rare disease in the United States.

Although Illinois typically has 10 cases a year, in 2006 Illinois had over 600 cases of mumps. Our school nurse has been in contact with the Cook County Department of Public Health regarding this situation, and has been informed that the risk of the spread of infection at Fremd High School is small; we are sharing this information with you so that you may do your part in helping to control the spread of this disease.

Fremd has posted more information on its website about symptoms and steps parents should take if they believe their child has contracted the virus. More information is also available on the Center for Disease Control website. Parents can also contact Fremd school nurse Lori Papciak at 847-755-2662 or consult your private physician for more information on mumps.