Health Department officials said Tuesday that a mumps outbreak, first reported at Ohio State University, has spread beyond campus to different parts of Franklin County.
FOX News reported that as of Monday, the number of mumps cases has jumped to 69. Forty-five of the cases are students and staff members at the university, said Jose Rodriguez, spokesman for the health department.
At least 17 cases involve individuals who have no ties to the campus FOX News reported. Within a year, only one or two cases of mumps are often reported, based on a report from a local ration station WCBE.
"The university cases have occurred in men and women between the ages of 18 and 48, while the community cases have occurred in residents of Columbus and Franklin County between the ages of 4 and 50," the department said in a statement.
The New York Daily News reported that health officials are working with other universities and community officials to make sure that they have the proper equipment in order to vaccinate members of the university and community, as well as control the disease from spreading.
"Even if you look at the outbreak, it's a highly vaccinated population," Rodriguez said. "But what we want to make sure is that if there are folks out there who have not had their two shots, and they need it, they should right away. "If you were born prior to 1958, you were likely exposed to the mumps so you may be protected. But most folks really need the two-shots of MMR vaccine. And if you haven't had your second shot, you really need to complete the series and get protected."
Health officials are also asking resident to make sure they are properly vaccinated with at least two doses of the MMR (Measles Mumps Rubella) vaccine and if infected stay home to prevent spreading. Mumps is a highly contagious virus that can spread through respiratory droplets when someone coughs or sneezes.
"Whether you sneezed, coughed, kissed somebody, you may have given the infection without realizing you were sick," Dr. Mysheika Roberts with the Department of Health said.
Symptoms include fever, fatigue and body aches, but one-third of individuals to not experience symptoms. Five-days of isolation of offend required. In some rare case being exposed to the mumps can cause fertility problems or death.
