State urges extra mumps vaccine dose as cases rise

As the holiday season approaches, the state Department of Health encourages individuals to get an extra dose of the mumps vaccine as confirmed cases continue to rise in Hawaii.

As of Friday the Health Department said the number has spiked to 575 confirmed cases so far this year. The department also reported almost 60 percent of cases have been adults.

Officials also received 16 reports of complications linked to mumps that include partial hearing loss and orchitis, or swelling of the testicles.

Immunization Branch Chief Ronald Balajadia said a steady stream of cases is being reported to the department. “We’re seeing a consistent number of cases being reported to us from the public, physician’s office, etc.”

On Monday, Kapiolani Community College notified faculty, students and staff of one confirmed case of mumps on campus at Diamond Head. In October three cases were confirmed at the University of Hawaii’s Manoa campus.

Balajadia said, “Anytime you have a confirmed case, there’s always a potentiality of that individual exposing and/or infecting another individual.”

Confirmed cases thus far involve children and adults, “both vaccinated and unvaccinated.”

In addition to routine mumps vaccines for children and adults, adolescents and young adults ages 10 to 19 as well as adults born in or after 1957 are advised to immediately get the extra dose, dubbed “the outbreak dose.”

The Health Department said a majority of individuals born before 1957 are likely to have had mumps and believed to be protected. Nevertheless, those born before 1957 who do not know whether they had the disease are advised to contact their health care provider about the vaccine.

Symptoms are similar to the flu, such as fatigue and loss of appetite. The disease is spread by coughing, sneezing and touching infected items. The virus is transmitted through saliva or fluid from the mouth or nose.

With the upcoming holiday festivities, Balajadia highly recommends individuals regularly wash their hands. Also, do not share cups, spoons, forks or anything that can transfer your saliva to another person.

“If you’re sick, stay at home. Isolate yourself,” he said, adding that people should distance themselves from other household members. “If you cough or sneeze, cover your cough and sneeze.”

“Whatever can be done to minimize the spread is really important, especially knowing the holidays are here,” Balajadia added.

For more information on the mumps outbreak, visit health.hawaii.gov/docd/department-of-health-investigating-mumps-cases.