Auburn School District says kids not vaccinated for mumps must stay home

The ongoing mumps outbreak in King County is forcing students in the Auburn School District who have not been vaccinated to stay home.

Most of the cases have been reported in Auburn, and mostly among school age children.

It’s the reason a letter was recently sent out to parents to ensure children get vaccinated against mumps or they won't be allowed back to class for about a month.

So far, there are 44 cases of mumps confirmed in King County, 39 of which are in Auburn.

The school district says students who have gotten two doses of the MMR vaccine are fine to come to class.

If they have just had one dose, they are OK to attend class, but are recommended to get a second dose.

But students who are not vaccinated, and whose parents are not willing to get them the shots, will be barred from class for 25 days.

So far, five schools in Auburn have reported cases of mumps.

Dr. Jeff Duchin of the health department says some people don't respond to the vaccine so outbreaks can still occur, but if unvaccinated, many more people would become ill.

“It does leave some number of people who may still be vulnerable and can acquire the infection and spread it,” said Dr. Jeff Duchin, with the Seattle King County Health Department.

But Duchin said the vaccine is still worth getting: “Before we had the vaccine, mumps was a major cause of viral meningitis, cause inflammation of the brain, of the testes, of the ovaries in women.”

Once a person is vaccinated, there is no need for booster shots.

Here’s a question and answer section provided by the health department.

What is mumps?

Mumps is an illness caused by a virus that can cause fever, headache, and swelling of the cheeks and jaw. Most people recover from mumps in a few weeks. In rare cases, mumps can lead to more serious complications that may require hospitalization, including inflammation of the brain and spinal cord and deafness. Up to 30% of people with mumps infection will have no symptoms.

How is mumps spread?

A person with mumps can spread the virus by coughing, sneezing, or spraying saliva while talking. It can also be spread by sharing cups or eating utensils, and by touching objects or surfaces with unwashed hands that are then touched by others.

What Public Health is doing

Investigation of infectious diseases is one of the essential services provided by Public Health - Seattle & King County. We will continue to identify and investigate any additional cases of mumps. We are also alerting healthcare providers and working with schools and communities in King County to provide education about preventing mumps. Increased cases of mumps have been identified nationwide, so we are sharing information and coordinating with the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health departments in other states.

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