FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 14, 2006
First probable mumps case identified in Kansas City, Mo.
The City of Kansas City, Mo., Health Department has identified the first probable case of mumps within the city limits. The patient, identified only as a City employee who works in City Hall, raises the possibility that other employees and visitors also have been exposed.
Due to confidentially requirements, the Health Department is releasing no other information about the patient. However, they do believe the patient first became contagious April 7. Health Department disease investigators are investigating the case and are in the process of interviewing the patient to determine if others the patient had close contact with April 7-11 may be at risk. Close contact is defined as being within 3 feet of the patient for approximately one hour or being in the same confined area, such as an office, for a period of three hours. As disease investigators identify people at risk, those people also will be contacted and interviewed to determine their exposure risk and will be provided subsequent recommendations.
Anyone who was in City Hall between April 7 and 11 should be alert for symptoms of mumps, even those people who are not contacted by the Health Department. These symptoms may include fever, head ache and swollen salivary glands (under the jaw) on one or both sides of the neck. The symptoms are usually mild to moderate, but may be completely absent.
The Health Department is encouraging anyone experiencing symptoms of mumps to stay home from work, school or day care, and contact their health care provider by telephone to minimize the chances of exposing other people to mumps. Prevention is critical; the Health Department is reminding the public to immediately begin washing their hands thoroughly and often, to cover their coughs and sneezes, and not to share eating utensils or drinking cups.
For more information about mumps, visit the Health Department's Web site (www.kcmo.org/health) or the Centers for Disease Control's Web site (www.cdc.gov).
