Mumps Outbreak Confirmed In Montgomery County

NORRISTOWN, PA — An outbreak of the highly contagious mumps virus has been confirmed in Montgomery County, health officials announced.

The cases have been traced back to a social dance event - a "Baile Meijcano" or "Mexican Dance" - that occurred at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington, Delaware on Feb. 10, according to the Montgomery County Health Department.

Officials said the virus has spread within Montgomery County since that time. A similar outbreak - connected to the same dance - has been reported in neighboring Chester County.

Cases of mumps have increased both nationally and locally in recent years and can usually be traced to large social gatherings, officials said.

In 2016, there were 6,366 cases of mumps in the United States, as compared to only 228 in 2012. In Montgomery County, there were no cases in 2013, while 12 cases were reported from 2014 to 2017, with more due to the recent outbreak in 2018.

The mumps virus can be spread within three to six feet when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and the incubation period can range from 12 to 25 days, according to health officials. The virus causes a swelling of salivary glands in the face, and can cause other side effects, such as sterility in men and, in rare cases, hearing loss.

Some symptoms of mumps include:

• Swollen, painful salivary glands on one or both sides of your face
• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Weakness and fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Pain while chewing or swallowing

Immediate medical care is suggested for those experiencing symptoms. Yet the Mayo Clinic reports there's no specific treatment for mumps. The website notes that mumps outbreaks still occur in the United States, and mumps is still common in many parts of the world, so getting a vaccination to prevent mumps remains important.

A vaccine for mumps is available at doctor's offices, healthcare centers, and other immunization providers, officials said.

Photo credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a 1977 thin sectioned transmission electron micrograph (TEM) depicted the ultrastructural details of the mumps virions that had been grown in a Vero cell culture.