Students who haven’t received the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine will not be allowed to attend school or school activities in Sanpete County for weeks thanks to a mumps outbreak there, health officials announced Monday.
Two cases of mumps have been confirmed in the county, and health officials are investigating “other probable cases,” according to a news release fro the Central Utah Public Health Department.
Students who are not vaccinated have received notification and will not be allowed to attend school until May 5 at the earliest — and only if they have no symptoms, the department reported.
If new cases are confirmed, the date could be pushed back even further; school exclusions remain in effect for 26 days from the onset of the latest identified case, health officials wrote.
Students may return to school if they obtain the vaccine and can provide documentation of it.
Symptoms of mumps often include fever, headache, muscle aches and swollen salivary glands, which can cause a tender and swollen jaw. Possible complications include encephalitis, meningitis and deafness.
Health officials urge residents to check the vaccination status of themselves and their family.
"A person is considered susceptible unless they have received two doses of the mumps vaccine or were born prior to 1957," health officials wrote.
If you believe you have mumps, call a doctor, health officials said; do not go directly into a clinic, but let employees arrange your arrival to protect other patients.
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