Mumps: back in full force

By Lisa Moreno

First it was bio-terrorism, then the avian "bird flu," and now the epidemic scare of the moment: the mumps.

For most people the mumps only enters conversations about childhood vaccinations. But suddenly we are witnessing the largest outbreak of mumps in the United States in more than 20 years.

The epicenter of this growing epidemic is Iowa, where according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 975 cases have been reported since December, and more than 350 cases have been diagnosed in seven other states.

Having the mumps was once as common as having the chicken pox is today. It was a rite of passage that meant a few days off school and a life-long immunity to the disease.

But it was thought that those days were long gone. An effective vaccine had all but eliminated large outbreaks, and before the epidemic in Iowa the national case load was down to an average of 265, according to the CDC.

Mumps immunization is a routine shot that is administered with the normal round of newborn vaccines, and there is a second vaccine that is administered a few years later as a part of a series of shots required before a child enters school.

Generally speaking, mumps is not a serious illness, and it usually clears within nine days. There are even instances where people are unaware that they are infected.

The symptoms that often develop are fever, headache, body aches, fatigue and swollen salivary glands; however, a person can be contagious for approximately three days without knowing he or she is ill.

Here at Santa Clara, students are asked to provide their vaccination and immunization history prior to admission, but it is not mandatory.

The best and safest course of action is prevention. If you have not been immunized, it is a good idea to check with your doctor about getting the vaccine, and like everything else, good hygiene is your best weapon.

Mumps is spread through saliva, so forget everything that your parents taught you about sharing. Food, drinks and lip balm are off limits, as well as other activities that may involve swapping spit with an infected party. Use this as an opportunity to look out for your health -- or to simply be selfish. The choice is yours.

Bottom line, if you think that you have the mumps virus, seek the professional opinion of a doctor immediately. Early detection is key to nipping this nasty virus in the bud and preventing its spread to others. Hopefully we can soon eliminate this disease and the physical and financial costs that go with it.

Lisa Moreno is a senior communication major.