A student at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School on Kauai has been diagnosed with a case of the mumps. Principal Debra Badua said in a letter that the school is working with the state Department of Health to monitor the case
A student at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School on Kauai has been diagnosed with a case of the mumps.
Principal Debra Badua said in a letter that the school is working with the state Department of Health to monitor the case and decide the best steps to protect students and staff.
“It is important that we work together to keep our children in good health,” Badua wrote.
She said if a parent notices any symptoms of concern “in either yourself or your child,” they should contact a doctor.
Hawaii officials are urging all residents born in or after 1957 to get a mumps vaccination if they haven’t already done so.
The DOH announced Thursday that 16 additional people have mumps, which brings the state’s yearly total to 81 cases. The state had 10 mumps cases last year.
Anyone without evidence of immunity to mumps should receive at least one vaccine dose, DOH officials said.
In December, U.S. officials declared the country was in the midst of its worst mumps outbreak in a decade.
The disease is not considered life-threatening, but there could be lasting side effects, including the swelling of salivary glands and jaws.
Mumps is highly contagious. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness and loss of appetite.
Some people with mumps have very mild or no symptoms at all.
People who have been exposed to mumps and are not vaccinated should not attend school, work or travel from day 12 through day 25 after exposure, the DOH said.
•••
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
