Mumps Outbreak: Data Show Issaquah Schools Immuniztion Rates

ISSAQUAH, 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.

King County Health Officer Dr. Jeffrey Duchin has said that this is the largest number of mumps cases since 2007, and has implored residents to get vaccinated. About 67 percent of those stricken with mumps have been vaccinated, but health officials say it's still 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. According to King County, available data show that many Issaquah schools are above that level. 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.

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.

Here are the immunization levels according to King County for Issaquah schools (rates were not available for all schools):

• Dartmoor School, Issaquah - 100%
• Snoqualmie Springs School - 100%
• Discovery Elementary - 98.40%
• Pine Lake Middle School - 97.40%
• Skyline High School - 97.40%
• Beaver Lake Middle School - 97.20%
• Sunny Hills Elementary - 97.20%
• Cougar Ridge Elementary - 97.10%
• Issaquah High School - 96.80%
• Cascade Ridge Elementary - 96.70%
• Challenger Elementary - 96.60%
• Grand Ridge Elementary - 96.60%
• Newcastle Elementary School - 96.30%
• Liberty Senior High School - 96%
• Creekside Elementary - 95.70%
• Pacific Cascade Middle School - 95.20%
• Endeavour Middle School - 95.10%
• Issaquah Middle School - 95.10%
• Issaquah Valley Elementary - 94.40%
• Sunset Elementary - 94.40%
• Clark Elementary - 93.80%
• Briarwood Elementary - 93.20%
• Apollo Elementary - 92.70%
• Tiger Mountain Community High School - 89.50%
• Arbor Schools - 86.90%
• Eastridge Christian School - 84.60%

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