Mumps Outbreak: 71 Cases In 8 Local Cities

KENT, WA - There are now mumps cases in eight different cities in King County, including Seattle, officials reported Wednesday. The total number of cases is now at 71 - 17 confirmed, 54 probable - spread across Auburn, Kent, Federal Way, Black Diamond, Algona, Seattle, Covington, and Pacific.

But in updating its daily total of cases - there were 63 cases Tuesday in five different cities - King County health officials on Wednesday made sure to point out that all 71 cases are related to the original outbreak in Auburn by work or school.

The outbreak emerged out of Auburn two weeks ago, and the majority of cases are still located in that city. Health officials are urging that school district there to keep students who are not vaccinated against measles out of school until the outbreak subsides.

Mumps has now appeared in the Federal Way and Kent school districts, King County reported Tuesday. Fifty of the 71 cases are in children under age 17.

About 72 percent of the people with mumps had received a measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccination. The MMR vaccine is 88 percent effective, but even people who have been vaccinated have a higher chance of getting the virus if they are in close, sustained contact with mumps, health officials say

Still, health officials in Pierce and King counties people to get an MMR vaccination to prevent further spread of the outbreak. Mumps causes flu-like symptoms, plus painful swelling of the face and neck.

Image via Shutterstock