Hawaii’s mumps outbreak has reached Hawaii County, the state Department of Health announced Friday.
“It’s our first case that we’ve confirmed,” said District Health Officer Aaron Ueno. “Was it unexpected? No, because it’s so contagious.”
The ongoing outbreak on Oahu has concerned state officials for weeks, with isolated cases on Kauai and, now, the first confirmed case on Hawaii Island.
The DOH has been offering regular updates during the outbreak and on Friday said the number of confirmed cases had risen to 133 statewide.
Of the 14 latest, “11 cases are on Oahu, two are on Kauai and one is on Hawaii Island, representing that island’s first confirmed mumps case this year,” the department said.
Those diagnosed with mumps are urged to stay home to avoid exposing other people — kids and adults — to the highly contagious ailment.
“According to Hawaii state law, a person with mumps may not attend school, work or travel for nine days after the start of swollen salivary glands,” the DOH emphasized.
“If you are sick, even if you don’t know what you have, stay away from work,” Ueno said. “Stay home.”
Some people can get mumps without exhibiting symptoms and still be contagious, he said. That makes containment of outbreaks difficult.
Even people who have been vaccinated with one dose of the measles-mumps-rubella, or MMR, vaccine have been among those getting mumps, Ueno said, although their symptoms have been less severe. A single dose provides 70 percent immunity, he said, and a second dose about 80 percent.
Authorities ask people with symptoms of mumps to “contact their health care provider immediately.”
Ueno said the first Big Island case happened in East Hawaii but he was unable to provide more details.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists the most common symptoms as fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, loss of appetite and swollen and tender salivary glands under the ears on one or both sides.
DOH officials said children normally should get a first dose of vaccine between ages 1 and 15 months.
“However, due to the continued circulation of mumps in Hawaii, children between 1 and 4 years of age should receive their second dose now (a minimum of four weeks after the first dose),” the department advises.
People born before 1957 have probably been exposed previously to mumps and are immune. However, adults born after 1957 should review their immunization records to make sure they got the MMR vaccination.
“Individuals with only one documented MMR dose are strongly encouraged to consider receiving a second MMR vaccine dose,” the DOH urged.
Ueno said “we’re hopeful” that the Big Island will only have the single case.
But he said more cases could potentially happen here.
To find a place to get vaccinated, call the Aloha United Way referral service by dialing 211.
Email Jeff Hansel at jhansel@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
