Mumps Outbreak: Data Show Bellevue Schools Immuniztion Rates

BELLEVUE, WA - Health officials have been watching a mumps outbreak in Auburn grow over the last week, and at last check there were 44 cases and the outbreak had spread to neighboring cities Kent, Federal Way, and Pacific. Meanwhile, the U.S. is seeing the largest number of cases in a decade, the Centers for Disease Control has said.

King County Health Officer Dr. Jeffrey Duchin has said that this is the largest number of mumps cases in the county since 2007, and has implored residents to get vaccinated. About 56 percent of those who have come down with mumps have been vaccinated, but health officials say it's the best way to avoid contracting the virus.

To prevent outbreaks, health officials aim for "herd immunity," which is the level where immunization rates in a given population are higher than 83 percent. But according to King County data, not all schools in Bellevue are above that level.

In Washington, schoolchildren are required to get certain vaccinations - Hepatitis B, chicken pox, measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) - unless they get an exemption, either for religious, medical, or other reasons. The Auburn outbreak began in children under age 17, and on Wednesday health officials asked the Auburn district to keep 200 children out of school as a precaution against further spread of the virus.

Here are the immunization levels according to King County for Bellevue schools (data was not available for all schools):

• BKPlay Academy - 100%
• Newport Children's School - 100%
• Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart - 98.90%
• Hillside Student Community School - 97.40%
• Open Window School - 96.80%
• St. Madeline Sophie School - 93.60%
• Newport Heights Elementary - 93%
• Newport Senior High School - 92.70%
• Somerset Elementary School - 91.90%
• Puesta Del Sol Elementary School - 91.60%
• Eastgate Elementary School - 91.50%
• Lake Hills Elementary - 89.60%
• Woodridge Elementary - 89.50%
• Phantom Lake Elementary - 89.20%
• French Immersion School of Washington - 87.90%
• Tyee Middle School - 87.20%
• Enatai Elementary Schoool - 86.10%
• Bellevue Big Picture School - 73.50%
• Tillicum Middle School - 73.40%
• Emerald Heights Academy - 58.80%
• Eastside Christian School - 50.40%

You can view the full King County immunization data-set here.