DES MOINES, Iowa — A mumps epidemic is sweeping across Iowa in the biggest outbreak in the country, puzzling health officials and worrying parents.

As of Thursday, 245 confirmed, probable or suspected cases of mumps had been reported to the Iowa Department of Public Health since mid-January. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is the only major outbreak in the nation.

"We are calling this an epidemic, not just an outbreak," said Iowa state epidemiologist Dr. Patricia Quinlisk, explaining that mumps has spread to more than one-third of the state and does not appear to be confined to certain age groups or other sectors of the population.

Quinlisk said Iowa has had about five cases of mumps a year in recent years, and this is the first large outbreak in nearly 20 years.

"We're trying to figure out why is it happening, why is it happening in Iowa and why is it happening right now. We don't know," she said.

CDC spokeswoman Lola Russell said the federal agency has no answers yet. Quinlisk said one theory is that the infection was brought over from England — perhaps by a college student — because the strain seen in Iowa has been identified by the CDC as the same one that has caused tens of thousands of cases of the mumps in a major outbreak in Britain over the past two years.

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No, but I have had the MMR vaccine.

Definately mumps:

The kids had their MMR vaccines when they were babies and I had mine when I moved to the US.

If you read the whole article it states that 66% of those infected have recieved the required 2 shots and another 14% recieved 1 shot. Doesn't sound like it works too good.




Of the 245 patients this year, at least 66 percent had had the recommended two-shot vaccination, while 14 percent had received one dose, the Public Health Department said.

"The vaccine is working," Quinlisk said. "The vaccine certainly was made to cover this particular strain, because it's a fairly common strain of mumps." Quinlisk said the vaccine overall is considered about 95 percent effective.

Mumps in adolescent and adult males may also result in the development of orchitis, an inflammation of the testicles. Usually one testicle becomes swollen and painful about 7 to 10 days after the parotids swell

kill it with fire!!

Quoted: No, but I have had the MMR vaccine.

I would imagine that most of those infected have had that vaccine, as well.  Vaccines aren't 100% effective.

CO

I never had mumps, but have heard for years that it can leave adult males sterile.

Mumps are a bad thing when you are a child but as an adult you can apparently become sterile.

Quoted: Mumps in adolescent and adult males may also result in the development of orchitis, an inflammation of the testicles. Usually one testicle becomes swollen and painful about 7 to 10 days after the parotids swell kill it with fire!!

Just one?  Hope it's the missing one!
<-----testicular cancer survivor

I wonder if this is yet another plague brought by illegal aliens.  One of the reasons to screen people comming into a country is to look for diseases like this.