Recent Outbreaks Highlights Need to Stay Current on Immunizations

As the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) continues to investigate a growing number of mumps & measles cases in Ohio, the Gallia County Health Department would like to remind our community members that vaccinations are the most effective way to prevent illness from vaccine-preventable diseases. People don’t think twice when it comes to being vaccinated in readiness for travel, even visiting somewhere like Pharmavaccs for a fast service, yet they feel faced with such a moral dilemma when it comes to day to day immunization.

Mumps is a contagious disease that is spread person to person through the saliva or mucus from the mouth, nose, or throat of an infected person, usually when that person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Mumps is best known for swelling of the cheeks and jaw that it causes, which is a result of swelling of the salivary glands. People who show symptoms usually recover after a week or two, but mumps can occasionally cause serious complications .The most common complication is inflammation of the testicles (orchitis) in males who have reached puberty; rarely does this lead to fertility problems .Other rare complications include: Inflammation of the brain and/or tissue covering the brain and spinal cord (encephalitis/meningitis); Inflammation of the ovaries (oophoritis) and/or breasts (mastitis) in females who have reached puberty; and Deafness. To date the Ohio Department of Health has reported 271 cases of mumps in Ohio.

Measles is a contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus. The disease of measles and the virus that causes it share the same name. The disease is also called rubeola. Measles virus normally grows in the cells that line the back of the throat and lungs. Measles causes fever, runny nose, cough and a rash all over the body. About one out of 10 children with measles also gets an ear infection, and up to one out of 20 gets pneumonia. About one out of 1,000 gets encephalitis, and one or two out of 1,000 will die. To date the Ohio Department of Health has reported 13 cases of Measles in Ohio.

Given the recent outbreaks, to ensure that you and those around you are protected from mumps and measles, the Gallia County Health Department encourages individuals who are considered at high risk – those who have not received any doses of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) and those who have received only one dose of MMR – to get vaccinated.

“Immunization is the most effective way to protect yourself and your family from vaccine-preventable diseases,” said Gallia County Health Commissioner, Gerald E. Vallee, MD. In addition, to reduce the spread of infectious diseases, such as mumps and measles, wash your hands often, cover your cough, and stay home when you are ill.

The Gallia County Health Department supports the vaccine recommendations set forth by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These recommendations include vaccination schedules for when individuals (children and adults) should receive their vaccinations. To access the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended immunization schedules, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/index.html.

The Gallia County Health Department encourages everyone to consult with their health care provider or health department if they have questions regarding their immunization status.
For more information about mumps & measles, visit the ODH website at http://www.odh.ohio.gov/, or call the health department at 740-441-2018.