Ohio measles and mumps outbreaks continues to rise
In an update on the outbreaks of two vaccine preventable diseases in Ohio, health officials released numbers to show that both the measles and mumps outbreaks continue to grow.
According to a Friday Columbus Public Health news release, the number of mumps cases in Central Ohio is now up to 361. Of that number, 208 cases have been linked to The Ohio State University outbreak.
Image/Columbus Public Health
While mumps is generally a mild disease, more severe complications can occur and according to health officials, numerous complications have been reported in the current outbreak to include severe pain, inflammation of the testicles (orchitis) in post pubescent males, inflammation of the ovaries (oophoritis) in post pubescent females and deafness.
11 people required hospitalization for their illness with the vast majority of patients recovering on their own. For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page.
The measles outbreak, which began with Amish missionaries who traveled to the Philippines, now affects six counties in the Buckeye State. The total number of cases is now at 83, up 10 from the last report.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine for prevention of these viral diseases. In almost all cases, people who received the MMR vaccine are protected against measles. However, in rare cases, people who get the vaccine can still become infected with the measles if exposed to the virus. Two doses of MMR vaccine provide full protection against measles to 99 out of every 100 persons vaccinated.
Concerning mumps, two doses of mumps vaccine are 88% (range: 66-95%) effective at preventing the disease; one dose is 78% (range: 49%−92%) effective.
[…] Last Friday, the number of cases reported in the Buckeye State was 83. For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page. […]