Front Page Talking Points

FOR THE WEEK OF APR 17, 2006

Mumps epidemic hits the Midwest

frontpageactionpoints.gif

1.gifStudying how the mumps epidemic has spread and how it might be contained is important to health officials as they prepare for a potential bird flu epidemic in the future Have your students track the disease through newspaper reports on a U.S. map. Indicate the states hit and the number of mumps cases reported in each state. Is there a pattern to the outbreak? Is it headed your way?

2.gifMumps is one of the diseases nearly wiped out through vaccines. Many young doctors today have never seen a case. Have your students research other once-common diseases that are now greatly reduced such as smallpox, polio, typhoid and chickenpox. What diseases are mentioned most often in news stories today?

3.gifHow much health coverage is there in your newspaper each day? Track the coverage and categorize it. Common topics include fitness and diet, obesity and attempts to control it. Is there a common theme in the coverage about what you can do to stay healthy?

Seven Midwestern states are dealing with a mumps epidemic, the nation's first major outbreak of the disease in 20 years. And health officials expect the number of cases to climb even higher in coming weeks. Many more cases than normal are being reported in Nebraska, Kansas, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin and Minnesota with Iowa the hardest hit state so far.

Mumps was once a common childhood illness but it had been virtually eradicated with widespread use of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine first introduced into the U.S. in 1967.

The number of cases declined further after routine vaccination was recommended for children in 1977 and after a second dose of the MMR vaccine was implemented in the 1990s.

What's the mumps? Mumps is a contagious disease caused by a virus. Common symptoms include fever, headache, and a swelling of the glands around the jaw. Symptoms are not usually severe in children. In teenagers and adults, the symptoms can be more severe and complications are more common but still rare.

How does it spread? The disease is spread the same way as colds -- coughing and sneezing and touching contaminated surfaces. Symptoms can show up 12 to 25 days after infection and people are contagious from three days before getting symptoms until nine days after symptoms start. Health officials think the current outbreak may be traced to two passengers on commercial flights to and from Iowa.

What can you do to protect yourself? Mumps season lasts from late winter to spring. Practice good hygiene -- wash your hands regularly, cover your mouth when you cough. Avoid sharing drinking cups and eating utensils. Avoid close contact with sick individuals. Get vaccinated. And if you do get sick, stay home from school.

What if you do get sick? Unfortunately, there is no specific treatment for mumps other than relieving the symptoms. The disease usually runs its course in about five days. On the bright side, if you've had the mumps, you're probably immune. Before U.S. children began receiving routine mumps vaccinations in 1967, almost everybody got the mumps and thus gained immunity from future infections.

Front Page Talking Points is written by Felix Grabowski and Alan Stamm for NIEonline.com, Copyright 2024

Front Page Talking Points Archive

Common Core State Standard
SL.CCS.1/2/3/4 Grades 6-12: An essay of a current news event is provided for discussion to encourage participation, but also inspire the use of evidence to support logical claims using the main ideas of the article. Students must analyze background information provided about a current event within the news, draw out the main ideas and key details, and review different opinions on the issue. Then, students should present their own claims using facts and analysis for support.