Kerala is experiencing an outbreak of mumps; on Sunday, March 10, a minimum of 190 cases were confirmed in just one day. According to data released by the state health department, Kerala has recorded 2,505 cases of the viral infection so far this month and 11,467 cases in the first 2 months of the current year.
Kerala Mumps Outbreak
The southern state of Kerala has reported a mumps outbreak, with 190 cases registered in a single day on Sunday. The majority of cases are recorded from the districts of Malappuram and north Kerala.Â
The total number of instances of viral infection recorded this month is 2,505, and throughout the first two months of this year, it has increased to 11,467, according to information from the Kerala health department.Â
The National Center for Disease Control in the state has been notified of the epidemic by Union health ministry authorities. Although there is a vaccine to prevent rubella, influenza, and mumps, it is not included in the government’s universal immunization program.
What is Mumps?
Mumps is a viral infection caused by the paramyxovirus, which can be circulated through close contact or airborne droplets from the upper respiratory system of a person who has been infected.Â
Children between the ages of 2 and 12 who have not got the mumps vaccine are the ones most commonly affected. The illness begins with mild symptoms like a high temperature, headache, and fatigue.Â
If your illness becomes serious then you will face irreversible loss of hearing, inflammation of the brain in your youngster, irritation of the tissue that surrounds the spinal cord and brain of your kid, and Thyroid gland discomfort in your child.
What are the symptoms of Mumps?Â
After between two and four weeks of infection, a person with the mumps starts to exhibit symptoms. The symptoms of mumps are given below.
- Salivary gland swelling, especially in the area around the face, mouth, and ears
- Fever ranges from low to high
- Headaches ranging from minor to severe
- Difficulty during chewing.
- Aches in the ears
- Fatigue and aches in the muscles
- Appetite decline
- WeaknessÂ
Mumps complications include orchitis, oophoritis, mastitis, meningitis, encephalitis, pancreatitis, and a loss of hearing. A few complications of mumps are observed more frequently between adults than children.Â
Pregnancy-related mumps are often benign but they incredibly seldom result in miscarriage, early delivery, poor birth weight, birth abnormalities, or even fetal death.Â
Consult your healthcare professional as soon as possible if you have been exposed to the mumps and are pregnant. Mumps-related deaths are extremely rare.
How does Mumps spread?
When someone infected coughs, sneezes, or speaks, the virus enters the body via the nostrils, mouth, or throat of those who are close. This is how respiratory droplets mostly spread the mumps.Â
Sharing cutlery or cups can result in direct contact between the infectious individual’s saliva or lung secretions and the virus. In addition, the mumps can spread for a few days following the start of swelling and even before symptoms manifest.Â
Close contact, crowded areas, and low immunization rates spread the mumps. Spreading can be avoided by continuing to practice excellent hygiene, such as washing your hands frequently and covering your coughs and sneezes.
How can you avoid getting the mumps?​
The two main methods of preventing mumps are immunization and proper cleanliness. The vaccine known as measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) effectively prevents mumps. It is usually given in two doses in childhood to provide long-lasting immunity.Â
The danger of spreading the mumps can also be decreased by adopting good hygiene practices, such as often washing your hands with soap and water, not sharing cutlery or drinks with people who might be affected, and covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough.Â
Retaining a high vaccination rate in populations is essential to stopping epidemics and shielding susceptible groups from the illness.
What is the duration of mumps?
Most kids get over the mumps in a matter of weeks. When your child’s symptoms have subsided and the swelling has subsided for around a week, they can go back to school.
It is extremely rare for a youngster to contract the mumps again in their entire life after having had it as a child. However, making sure your child’s vaccinations are current is the greatest method to guarantee they are protected against the mumps.