City health officials have confirmed an outbreak of mumps among a small group of children in Boro Park, Brooklyn. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has been investigating the outbreak among children from Boro Park who attended summer camp in Upstate New York, officials said.
There are 57 confirmed or probable cases of mumps identified in Brooklyn since August 21, 2009, health officials said.
Mumps, a viral disease, can cause painful swelling of the salivary glands or [painful testicular swelling and rashes may also occur. The symptoms are generally not severe in children. The disease usually runs its course and the infected person recovers on his or her own.
Mumps is a contagious disease that is spread from person-to-person through contact with respiratory secretions such as saliva from an infected person.
Most children are vaccinated against mumps.
All suspected of cases of mumps should be reported to the Bureau of Immunization at 212-676-2288.
{WNBC-NY/Matzav.com Newscenter}
Mumps is a dangerous disease. It can cause serious after-effects even in children, not to mention being life-threatening to some adults. In some cases in children it can cause viral meningitis (inflammation of the brain) and permanent brain damage.
It was publicized some time ago that one of the yeshivas in Boro Park had forged certificates of immunization to save parents the expense and bother of actually immunizing their children. This outbreak may be another such case.
If your children have not been properly immunized or you are an adult who has not been immunized and has not had mumps, call your doctor, Maimonides Hospital or the Health Department IMMEDIATELY. Don’t risk your precious children – or yourself either.