Categories
Public Info

Mumps Outbreak Investigation, Monmouth County, NJ

The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH), in conjunction with the Monmouth County Health Department, is investigating an outbreak of mumps involving patrons and employees of D’Jais Bar and Grill in Belmar, New Jersey. Currently there is 1 case confirmed by viral culture and 26 reports under investigation. Reports under investigation range in age from 4 to 54, with a median of 27 years of age. Most individuals involved report having received age-appropriate vaccinations, but dates of vaccination have not yet been verified.

We ask that healthcare providers and public health officials remain vigilant for patients presenting with an illness clinically compatible with mumps. People who visited Belmar may be returning to their homes within and outside New Jersey. Students may be returning to school and college campuses. In order to prevent the spread of disease within these other communities, please ensure that mumps be considered in the differential diagnosis of anyone presenting with symptoms consistent with mumps including:
– Fever
– Headache
– Muscle aches
– Tiredness
– Loss of appetite 
– Swollen and tender salivary glands under the ears on one or both sides (parotitis)
– Orchitis in males
– Mastitis and/or oophoritis in females
– Aseptic meningitis
– Encephalitis 
– Hearing loss
– Pancreatitis

Symptoms typically appear 16-18 days after infection, but this period can range from 12-25 days after infection.

Please be aware that outbreaks of mumps have occurred in vaccinated populations.

Serology is difficult to interpret in vaccinated individuals. Therefore, in addition to serology, a buccal swab and/or urine specimen for viral isolation should be collected from persons presenting with a clinically compatible illness, especially those who are vaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.

Persons with suspected mumps should be isolated for 5 days after onset of parotitis and, if they visit a health-care setting, droplet precautions should be initiated immediately.

Mumps is a disease reportable within 24 hours as per N.J.A.C. 8:57. Information about disease reporting is available through the New Jersey Department of Health website which can be accessed at: http://nj.gov/health/cd/reporting.shtml

Healthcare providers should report all suspect cases to the local health department where the patient resides. If patient residence is unknown, report to your own local health department. If the individual does not live in NJ, report the case to NJDOH Vaccine Preventable Disease Program during regular business hours at (609) 826-4861 or (609) 826-5964: if after-hours or on the weekend, call NJDOH at (609) 392-2020. Local health departments should contact the NJDOH VPDP. If mumps is suspected, the VPDP can offer guidance on the appropriate clinical specimens to obtain and facilitate transport of specimens to the Public Health and Environmental Laboratories (PHEL), as appropriate.

Additional resources: CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/mumps

Mumps specimen collection: http://www.cdc.gov/mumps/lab/index.html

FAQs on mumps testing: http://www.cdc.gov/mumps/lab/qa-lab-test-infect.html

Prevention & control in healthcare settings: http://www.cdc.gov/mumps/prev-control-settings/index.html

Mumps fact sheet for patients: http://www.cdc.gov/mumps/about/downloads/mumps-factsheet.pdf

More information on MMR vaccines: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/mumps

New Jersey Department of Health: http://www.nj.gov/health/cd/mumps_outbreak.shtml

Directory of local health departments in NJ: http://www.state.nj.us/health/lh/directory/lhdselectcounty.shtml