Maine CDC Confirms Maine Students in York High School Exposed to Mumps

Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) is investigating a confirmed case of mumps at York High School. This is the first mumps case identified in Maine in 2019.

Mumps was confirmed with laboratory testing on March 15 after one person became ill became on March 9th.

The Maine CDC has confirmed that the individual with the confirmed case of mumps was unvaccinated and acquired the illness while traveling outside the country.

The state also states that the individual was not isolated during the beginning of their illness and may have exposed others to the virus at York High School from March 6th to March 8th and at the unified basketball game at Massabesic High School gym on March 7th.

Mumps is a highly contagious viral disease characterized by fever, headache and swelling of the salivary glands (parotitis) with other symptoms associated as well.  It is spread communicably via saliva and mucus, but is not airborne.

After a person is exposed to mumps, symptoms usually appear 16 to 18 days after infection, but can range from 12 to 25 days.

There is no specific treatment for mumps. The Maine CDC states anyone with symptoms of the illness should contact their healthcare provider for evaluation.

The Maine CDC states those that have been vaccinated against mumps may still get the mumps, but states those that are fully vaccinated are much less likely to get the mumps than those that are unvaccinated and with less severe symptoms.

For more information about mumps, check out the Maine CDC's website.