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Thousands of cheerleaders may have been exposed to mumps last month at a national competition in Dallas, after health officials sent a letter to attendees of the National Cheerleaders Association All-Star National Championship informing them that someone with the illness had attended the event.
More than 23,000 athletes and 2,600 coaches participated in the competition from Feb. 23 to 25 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, many of whom traveled from out-of-state, which means that they could potentially infect many more people.
Mumps, which is spread through the saliva or mucus of an infected person, is known for its symptoms of puffy cheeks and a swollen jaw and may be accompanied by a fever, headache, loss of appetite, and fatigue. In some rare cases it can also cause deafness or encephalitis, swelling of the brain. Some people don’t show any sign of infection.
Most people who are vaccinated with the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine are protected against the virus — one dose is 78 percent effective and two doses is 88 percent effective. In the U.S. there have been 130 reported cases from January 1 to January 27 across 25 states and in 2017, more than 5,600 people got mumps, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2016, 6,366 cases were reported — the worst year for mumps in the U.S. since the MMR vaccine program was introduced in 1977.
Risk is very low
Studies have shown that vaccinating people during a mumps outbreak can help control it. There is no treatment for mumps once someone gets it, but most people recover completely in a few weeks.
“For the vast majority of people, the risk is very, very low,” said Chris Van Deusen, a spokesman for the Department of State Health Services, while also noting that there have been no reports of people developing symptoms in connection with the case.
“Just to be on the safe side we want people to be on the lookout for symptoms. We want folks to be aware of it and looking out for those telltale mumps symptoms.”
Related: Mumps booster and new shingles shot are part of new vaccine guidance
The next few days will be very telling.
“The incubation period for mumps can last from two weeks to a month, so the cheerleaders in Dallas should watch for symptoms of fever, muscle aches and swollen glands,” said NBC News correspondent Dr. John Torres. “Because the virus is spread via our saliva it’s important not to share utensils or cups with anyone suspected of having the mumps.”
“The next few days will probably be telling.”
“The next few days will probably be telling.”
Cheerleaders from the competition who have received two doses of the mumps vaccine are encouraged to contact their doctors to get an additional booster dose of the MMR vaccine to increasing waning immunity.
“If you, your child, or any other individuals linked to this event experience or have experienced mumps symptoms, please contact your healthcare provider and inform them of your exposure to mumps,” Antonio Aragon, a state health official, wrote in the letter.
Mumps has been on the rise with unrelated outbreaks around North Texas and Hawaii in the past few months, which officials said was the worst seen in years but is beginning to subside.