Federal officials say the outbreak of mumps centered in the U.S. Midwest is likely to spread before it can be reined in with vaccinations and quarantines.
Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta said 25,000 doses of vaccine are being shipped from its stockpile to Iowa, the center of the outbreak, and another 25,000 donated by Merck & Co. are headed to Iowa and six other affected states.
The number of cases has more than doubled in the past week, with at least 1,100 reported, The Washington Post said.
The epidemic has disproportionately affected young, healthy adults, including many college students, Gerberding said.
Mumps is a viral disease that is spread like the flu by infected people coughing and sneezing. Common symptoms are sore throat, body aches, fever and swollen glands in the jaw.
Copyright 2006 by United Press International
Related stories:
Canine influenza was around as early as 1999
The canine influenza virus, first identified in 2004, had been circulating in the greyhound population for at least five years prior to its discovery and may have been responsible for numerous outbreaks of respiratory disease among dogs at racing tracks during that period, according to research presented today (March 18) at the 2008 International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases in Atlanta, Georgia.
Towards understanding bluetongue outbreaks
A recent article published in
Virology, reports the identification of a bluetongue virus strain that caused the northern European Bluetongue outbreak in 2006. Comparison of the virus strain with the sequences of other previously isolated strains showed that it originated in sub-Saharan Africa, rather than from vaccine strains or strains circulating in southern Europe.
Midge-hunting scientists tackle spread of devastating bluetongue virus
Scientists at the BBSRC-funded Institute for Animal Health (IAH) are stepping up the battle against the devastating and economically damaging bluetongue virus. By combining ingenious ways to trap and monitor midges with cutting edge computer modelling and weather predictions the IAH team are gaining an understanding of how the insects spread the disease so that they can improve surveillance methods and advise farmers how and when to protect their animals.
New UGA invention effectively kills foodborne pathogens in minutes
University of Georgia researchers have developed an effective technology for reducing contamination of dangerous bacteria on food. The new antimicrobial wash rapidly kills Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 on foods ranging from fragile lettuce to tomatoes, fruits, poultry products and meats. It is made from inexpensive and readily available ingredients that are recognized as safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Screw worm outbreak in Yemen
An outbreak of the insidious ´screw worm´ fly in Yemen, is threatening livelihoods, in a country where rearing livestock is a traditional way of life. In recent weeks, a Ministerial delegation was at the IAEA in Vienna, Austria, to turn to the international community for emergency assistance to fight the deadly pest.
New details presented in outbreak in pork processing plant workers
New details on the neurological illness that has affected workers at several pork processing plants will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 60th Anniversary Annual Meeting in Chicago, April 12–19, 2008. The information will be presented as part of the Late-Breaking Science program, designed for research of major scientific importance or interest that warrants expedited presentation.
Prenatal syphilis screening rates: Are they being accurately reported?
Prenatal syphilis screening, recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, medical professional organizations, and public health authorities, is critical to preventing still births and serious birth defects in babies of affected mothers.
Pandemic flu may be well mitigated until vaccine is available
An outbreak of pandemic influenza in the U.S. could be mitigated with prompt implementation of social-distancing measures combined with antiviral treatment and prophylaxis until a vaccine is available, according to new findings published in the online Early Edition of
PNAS.