Local schools ready for mumps

A recent outbreak of mumps in Eastern Washington has made its way into Idaho and Silver Valley schools are already taking the necessary precautions.

On Saturday, Kootenai County health officials had confirmed a case of mumps in a man over the age of 50, but that man has since been observed and quarantined and is no longer contagious.

School and health officials in Shoshone County are bracing for a possibility of the untreatable disease making the trip over Fourth of July Pass.

“Our district nurse, Nicole Lewis, informed me there no cases reported to date in Shoshone County however with a case in Kootenai county it is very worrisome if mumps reaching Shoshone County,” Kellogg School District superintendent Woody Woodford said. “As you know, Washington has reported an increase in cases and students have been excluded from multiple schools.”

Woodford further explained the concept of school exclusions and how they work for the local schools.

“If an outbreak occurs in the Kellogg School District (which per Panhandle Health is two cases in a school) then those students (in whichever affected school) who are either not up to date with two MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccines or are exempt from them will be excluded for at least 25 days from the last identified case,” Woodford said. “Lewis is compiling a list of students so that if an outbreak occurs, we are ready.”

Wallace School District superintendent Bob Ranells echoed his Silver Valley colleague.

“I've had mumps and they are not fun,” Ranells said. “We are doing things basically the same way here in Wallace. We don't need the mumps here.”

Mumps is a contagious disease caused by a virus.

It typically starts with a few days of fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite, followed by swollen salivary glands.

Mumps is often transmitted by people who are in close contact with one another, such as those living in the same house, building, or dorm.

Melanie Collett, a spokesperson for Panhandle Health District spoke with the Coeur d'Alene Press last week

“There is no treatment for mumps,” Collett said. “There are only ways to treat the symptoms. It can be a very serious disease and getting the vaccination is the best method of protection.”

Mumps is spread via droplets (a droplet is defined as a small drop, such as a particle of moisture discharged from the mouth during coughing, sneezing, or speaking; these may transmit infections while airborne to others) and is highly contagious.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), mumps is especially dangerous in young children and in senior citizens.

The best way to avoid infection is vaccination, but covering the mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, washing hands with soap and water, and not sharing drinks/eating utensils will assist in preventing the speed of the virus.

If you begin to suspect you, your children, or someone you know has mumps contact a doctor right away.