New Jersey officials are warning residents to remain vigilant after eight mumps cases were reported in Hunterdon County in the western part of the state.
Outbreaks of “highly contagious” viral illnesses have been confined to one family group associated with international travel. The New Jersey Department of Health announced Tuesday..
This is the fourth case in the state so far this year, according to health officials, who did not say where the other three cases were or whether they were part of a cluster. NJ.com reported.
Officials are reminding New Jersey residents to be aware of symptoms and stay up-to-date on the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Mumps is an infection that primarily affects the glands, and symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, fatigue, and loss of appetite.
As the disease progresses, patients often experience swelling on one or both sides of the face, cheek swelling, and jaw tenderness and swelling.
Swelling can also affect the brain, testicles, ovaries, and breast tissue, leading to complications ranging from brain inflammation to hearing loss and even infertility.
“As a doctor and mother, I understand what it’s like to try to keep children and families healthy. The best way to keep you and your loved ones safe is to take MMR shots. If you or someone in your household has not been vaccinated, now is the time to do so,” said Dr. Caitlan Baston, acting commissioner of the New Jersey State Department of Health, in a statement.
Two doses of MMR are recommended for children, the first at 12 to 15 months of age and the second at 4 to 6 years of age.
Teens and adults who have not received two MMR shots or are unaware of their medical history should contact their health care provider to have their immunity levels checked, especially if they are traveling.
The New Jersey Department of Health also said in a statement Tuesday that one case of measles has been confirmed in the state already this year.
Reports of measles, another serious airborne disease that causes a patchy red rash, are surging across the country. The number of diagnoses in the U.S. so far this year has nearly reached the total for 2023.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that there were 41 measles cases recorded in January and February, compared to 58 cases overall last year.
This spike is thought to be due to the lockdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic, which disrupted children’s vaccination schedules and made them hesitant to get vaccinated.
“I know there’s a lot of mistrust about vaccines, and that’s unfortunate,” said Dr. Katherine Baumgarten, medical director of infection control and prevention at Ochsner Health in New Orleans. he told Time magazine last week..
“If vaccination rates continue to decline, we will see more outbreaks of diseases that we were hoping to completely eliminate,” she added.
