The Southeast Utah Health Department (SEUHD) announced recently that school and public health officials in the Sanpete County confirmed two cases of mumps in their area.
Due to this confirmation, the department encouraged everyone to ensure that their MMR vaccinations are up to date. This will hopefully prevent further spread of the disease as mumps is moderately contagious.
Known symptoms of mumps include anorexia, malaise, a low-grade fever, sore muscles and a headache. It has been reported that the most common manifestation of the mumps begins as swelling and tenderness in the salivary glands, with the swelling generally occurring two days after initial symptoms. The swelling generally resolves within 10 days of onset.
It was also announced that those students that have a vaccine exemption will be required to stay home from school for a total of 26 days after exposure to any individual that has mumps. Those that have mumps are encouraged to self-quarantine for a total of five days after the initial onset of swelling.
As of now, the SEUHD stated that they have not received word of any mumps exposure in Carbon, Emery or Grand counties.