COLUMBUS, Ohio – The number of mumps cases in a central Ohio outbreak has exceeded the total cases reported nationwide last year, but officials say it appears to be slowing down.
EXTRA: Learn more about mumps
Local health officials tallied 439 cases of the contagious viral illness in Franklin, Delaware and Madison counties as of Tuesday morning, Columbus Public Health director of public affairs and communications Jose Rodriguez said. That’s one more than the total reported throughout the United States in 2013.
Roughly half of the Ohio cases have been linked Ohio State University. The illnesses date to early January.
Health officials say the end of the school year appears to have triggered a downturn. Rodriguez says they have seen as many as 10 new cases being reported per day drop to one or two.
The central Ohio mumps outbreak is the area’s largest since 1979 when 930 cases were reported, Rodriguez said. That included 926 in Columbus and Franklin County and four in Madison County.
Mumps often starts with fever, fatigue and body aches. Those infected are urged to stay home, cover their mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing, and frequently wash their hands.
Local cases include one hospitalization, severe pain, 12 incidents of inflammation of the testicles (orchitis) in post pubescent males, five cases of inflammation of the ovaries (oophoritis) in post pubescent females and one case of deafness, Rodriguez said.
Health officials have urged people to ensure they’ve received two doses of the vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella.
Ohio also has a separate measles outbreak, which began in March with unvaccinated travelers who returned infected to Knox County from the Philippines. The Ohio Department of Health has confirmed 356 cases in nine counties as of Tuesday.