Mumps Outbreak at College Campus in New York

by Jessie Hill | December 13, 2016

Thus far, 63 cases of mumps have been reported at the State University of New York at New Paltz. Booster vaccinations are being given free of charge to students.

Additionally, Johnson County in the Dallas/Fort Worth area of Texas is having a record number of mumps cases being reported, affecting mostly school age children.

As of December 3, the CDC (Center for Disease Control) has had reports of over 4,000 cases of mumps in the United States for 2016.

Before the mumps vaccine was introduced in the United States in 1967, 186,000 cases of mumps were reported each year.

Children are usually given two mumps vaccines, as part of the MMR Vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella) when they are between 12 and 15 months of again, and again between the ages of 4-6. The vaccine for mumps is not 100% effective but the vaccine is still credited for reducing the number of mumps cases by 99%. Typically, those who have had the vaccine have a less severe case of mumps if they do end up with mumps.

Mumps is a virus. Typical symptoms include fever, muscle aches, malaise, loss of appetite, and swollen glands in the neck. Symptoms can last for a few weeks, though it is possible to have symptoms mild enough to not realize that you have mumps. After initial exposure to mumps, it typically takes 12-16 days to experience symptoms.

Mumps is transmitted through saliva and mucous, via sneezing, coughing, etc. to others or surfaces that others touch. The best prevention for mumps is frequent hand washing with soap and water.

Because mumps is a virus, traditional treatment includes rest, easy to chew foods, and over the counter pain medication.

Natural Remedies for Mumps

There are a number of home treatments for viruses, such as vitamin C and coconut oil, which may be effective to reduce the duration and symptoms of mumps. Additionally, castor oil packs are an effective folk remedy for swollen lymph nodes. A diet rich in nutrients will also help the body to work efficiently towards healing.

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