Mumps Outbreak Traced To D’Jais in Belmar

UPDATE, 9/6/13 D’Jais is closed voluntarily for the weekend

The Monmouth County Health Department is investigating 22 cases probable cases of mumps in the county, 15 of which have come forward since yesterday, according to a statement issued by County Public Health Coordinator Michael Meddis.

“Since yesterday, an additional 15 individuals with mumps-like symptoms have come forward,” County public health coordinator Michael Meddis said. “The medical professionals advised these individuals to be on bed rest, increase their fluid intake and take steps to reduce their fever.”

 

Twenty-one of the individuals are adults and most of them have been either a patron at or an employee of D’Jais in Belmar in the last several weeks. The one youth is of pre-school age.

 

Individuals in Monmouth County are from Asbury Park, Belmar, Farmingdale, Howell (4), Keyport, Long Branch (3), Neptune City, Tinton Falls and Wall. Individuals who reported hometowns from outside the county are from the New Jersey towns of Woodbridge, Saddle Brook, Ogdensburg, Emerson, Lawrenceville, Point Pleasant (2) and Port Saint Lucie, Florida.

 

The Monmouth County Health Department asks that if you are experiencing the swelling of salivary glands along with fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness and loss of appetite you should seek medical attention and call the Health Department at 732-431-7456.

 

Meddis added that the investigation is continuing as new cases are presented and to determine the source of transmission and identify close personal contacts.

 

Most people with mumps fully recover after a few weeks.  While infected with mumps, many people feel tired and achy, have a fever, and may have swelling of the salivary glands on the side of the face. Others may feel extremely ill and be unable to eat because of pain around the jaw, and a few will develop serious complications. Men and adolescent boys can develop pain or swelling in their testicles, which rarely results in sterility. Inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) and loss of hearing can also occur, and in rare cases this hearing loss can be permanent. The most serious complication is inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), which can lead to death or permanent disability.

Those people who have received the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine as infants and again between the ages of 4 and 6, are 9 times less likely to contract the virus than those who have not been vaccinated.

CDC recommends avoiding contact with other people if you have mumps, especially for 5 days after your glands swell,

When you have mumps, you should avoid close and prolonged contact with other people until at least 5 days after your glands begin to swell because you are contagious during this time. This means you should stay home when you are sick with mumps. You should not go to work or school. Even at home, you should limit contact with the people you live with; for example, sleep in a separate room by yourself if you can.  Staying home while sick with mumps is an important way to avoid spreading the virus to other people. People who are infected with mumps don’t get sick right away—it can take 2-4 weeks for them to show signs of infection.

During a mumps outbreak, CDC recommends non-infected people be sure they have received the MMR vaccine., keep their hands clean and avoid coughing or sneezing on other people,

Also remember that in any situation, keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps you can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. It is best to wash your hands with soap and clean running water for 20 seconds (see the CDC feature Wash Your Hands for tips on proper hand washing; also see Handwashing: Hand Hygiene Saves Lives, and Handwashing eCards). However, if soap and clean water are not available, use an alcohol-based product to clean your hands. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and throw out your used tissue. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands (see Cover Your Cough for more information).

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