Here’s A Story
That isn't getting much coverage in the blogosphere. There's been a sharp increase in the numbers of cases of mumps in the Midwest, with Iowa having the greatest number. There were 1,120 confirmed, probable and suspect cases as of Monday. Mumps has been reported in 69 of Iowa's 99 counties. There is a big push on to get additional immunizations to people in the 18-22 year-old age brackets. Special attention is being paid to colleges where, of course, there are a lot of the most at risk age group.
A similar large outbreak occurred in England last year with more than 50,000 cases reported by the end.
There were 1,120 confirmed, probable and suspect cases as of Monday, with mumps activity found in 69 out of Iowa's 99 counties, according to a news release from the Iowa Department of Public Health.
Iowa has been at the center of a mumps outbreak in the Midwest, which is being called the worst in the U.S. in 20 years.
The source of the Iowa outbreak is unknown, but Britain experienced a mumps epidemic that peaked last year with about 56,000 cases. The Iowa mumps virus is the same variety.
That's a lot of swollen glands. Mumps was already pretty rare when I was growing up. I wonder why the sudden upswing.
By Ellen, Thursday, 27 April , 2006 @ 4:17 am
I think there may be a lot of children who have not gotten immunized because their parents think the vaccines cause autism or some such thing.
I had mumps and all the childhood illnesses when I was a kid. They are not fun, and I am so happy my own children never had to go through them.
By Gauis Arbo, Thursday, 27 April , 2006 @ 4:35 am
Theyy’re saying that a lot of the 18-22 year olds were only partially immunized. They only got one dose when they were kids. That was the recommendation back then, but it was too low.