Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Delaware seeing worst mumps outbreak since 2005

Delaware Public Media

A mumps outbreak in Delaware continues to grow.

 

The Division of Public Health says a 1-year-old child has now been diagnosed with mumps.

That pushes the total number of recent cases in the First State to 11.  All of the cases are in New Castle County, with those affected between the ages of 1 to 35-years-old.

It’s the worst mumps outbreak in Delaware since 2005.

State health officials say 7 of the confirmed cases are linked to a Baile Mejicano dance event at the Chase Center in Wilmington on February 10th.  Another case involves a person who attended a similar dance March 3rd at the same location.

DPH adds that the 1-year-old lives with someone who attended one of the dances and that’s how the baby contracted the virus.

 

DPH recommends anyone who attended these events, and those who live with them, to see their primary care physician immediately.

 

 

The mumps is contracted through saliva and can lead to complications in adults including serious inflammatory issues. Officials say symptoms typically occur 16 to 18 days into the infection. But not everyone experiences symptoms, which include muscle aches, loss of appetite and fever.

 

 

 

Kelli Steele has over 30 years of experience covering news in Delaware, Baltimore, Winchester, Virginia, Phoenix, Arizona and San Diego, California.