FROM NJDHSS:
The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services in collaboration with local health authorities and public health officials in numerous states in the Northeast, continues to investigate a multi-state mumps outbreak. To date, the total number of cases in CT, NJ, NY City, and NY State is now approaching 3,000. As of March 16, 2010, there are 280 confirmed and probable cases in NJ. The number of cases by county are as follows:
Ocean - 265
Passaic - 6
Essex - 3
Bergen - 2
Hudson - 2
Monmouth - 2
Who is affected: The tradition-observant Orthodox Jewish populations from New York and New Jersey are primarily affected. This outbreak is also occurring among members of the same population in Israel.
The New York State Department of Health (NYSDH) has also confirmed an outbreak of mumps at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh campus that began on February 23, 2010. Affected students had all received 2 doses of mumps-containing vaccine. No epidemiologic links to the multistate mumps outbreak in the Orthodox Jewish community have been identified. There are 3 confirmed cases and 2 suspected cases associated with this outbreak. Two of the affected students had epidemiologic links to each other. NJDHSS has received an increasing number of reports of mumps in individuals with no links to the Orthodox Jewish community. Sustained transmission within non-Orthodox communities have not been documented within New Jersey at this time.
Evaluation of patients with clinically compatible illness: NJDHSS requests that providers within NJ obtain buccal swabs for viral culture from vaccinated individuals with clinically compatible illness. A single serologic test for mumps antibody is difficult to interpret in individuals who have been vaccinated although comparison of acute and convalescent antibody titers may be helpful.
Why mumps transmission is a concern at this time: The beginning of Passover (March 29th through April 6th), the Easter holiday (April 4th) and school spring breaks may offer further opportunities for mumps transmission as people travel and gather for the holidays.
Recommendations for Providers:
. Healthcare providers with patients in any community affected by a mumps outbreak should ensure that these patients, including both children and adults, are up to date with measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. The second dose of MMR vaccine for children may be administered as early as 28 days following the first dose.
. Healthcare providers may consider offering a second dose of MMR vaccine to adults who have received one dose.
. Healthcare providers who have contact with individuals affected by the outbreak should ensure that they themselves and ALL staff are immune to mumps in accordance with ACIP recommendations http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/provisional/downloads/mmr-evidence-immunity-Aug2009-508.pdf or receive two doses of MMR vaccine.
. Persons with suspected mumps should be isolated for 5 days after onset of parotitis and, if they visit a health-care setting, droplet precautions should be initiated immediately.
. Any suspected mumps case should be reported to the health department in the area where the case-patient resides.
Resources for Providers:
New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services
Directory of local health departments in NJ
Vaccine Information Statement
Hebrew or English
Resources for Patients
Fact sheets on mumps and the outbreak