Mumps Outbreak Confirmed In Chester County

WEST CHESTER, PA — An outbreak of the highly contagious mumps virus has been confirmed in Chester 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 county Health Department.

Officials said the virus has spread within Chester County since that time.

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 a loss of 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. The Chester County Health Department clinic can also offer the vaccine for free in certain cases. Call 610-344-6252 to learn more.

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.