State: 1-year-old diagnosed with mumps as outbreak continues

Eleven Delawareans — including a 1-year-old child — have become infected with the mumps, state health officials said Thursday. 

This is the first time Delaware has experienced an outbreak of the mumps since at least 2005, health officials said. The ages of residents confirmed with the infectious disease ranges from 1 to 35 years old. 

Mumps is a viral infection that is infectious through saliva or mucus, health officials said. It can easily spread by coughing, sneezing or talking. State health officials announced last week that three Delawareans had the mumps after attending a Mexican dance at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in February. One person confirmed with the mumps attended a dance a month later at the same location, the state said.

State health officials are asking people who attended these dances to contact their primary care physician about testing for mumps. It's likely more people have the mumps but haven't seen their doctor yet, health officials said.

Not everyone with mumps experiences symptoms, which include fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness and loss of appetite. These symptoms are then followed by swollen salivary glands, which can lead to puffy cheeks and a swollen jaw. 

Symptoms typically occur 16 to 18 days after the infection. There is no specific treatment for mumps, health officials said.  

While most people with the infection recover in a couple weeks, mumps can lead to serious complications. This includes inflammation of testicles, ovaries, breast tissue, the brain and tissue covering the brain and spinal cord. It can also lead to deafness. People who have the condition, or believe they have it, should stay home from work or school until five days after first feeling swollen glands, health officials said.

The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has seen a substantial increase in the number of mumps outbreaks since 2015, especially among young people in close communities such as college dorms. 

For those who are in need of a vaccine, New Castle County residents should call the Hudson State Service Center Immunization Clinic at (302) 283-7587, Kent County residents should call the Kent County Immunization Clinic at (302) 857-5140, and those in Sussex County should call the Georgetown Immunization Clinic at (302) 515-3220. 

To report suspected mumps cases, call (302) 744-4990 or email reportdisease@state.de.us. 

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Contact Meredith Newman at 302-324-2386 or at mnewman@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @merenewman.