After learning the existence of the disease on island, health officials have taken the steps to contain the disease by visiting the communities whose members have been infected with the disease to discuss and give advice as to how people should take into their own hands the containment of the disease so it does not spread to other nearby communities.
In an effort to control the disease from spreading, the Department of Health Services through its awareness programs is informing and advising people on how to protect themselves from the mump virus and what they need to do should the disease gets into their homes.
In a statement sent to the government broadcast, the Department of Health said, “Mumps is a disease caused by the mumps virus and is characterized by fever, swelling and pain around the cheeks and jaw. It spreads through direct contact with infected droplets or saliva when a person coughs, sneezes, spits or talks.” It says that sharing of contaminated items, like cups or soda cans, with a sick person may spread the disease.
The Department also stated that the best protection against mumps is two doses of Measles, Mumps, Rubella or MMR vaccine. This provides about 90 percent protection against mumps. Because some people who received 2 MMR doses may still get mumps, people could help prevent further spread of mumps in schools and communities by:
1. Keeping their children or other family members home from school, work, public places, or gatherings if they have symptoms of mumps and should remain at home for 5 days after the date facial swelling began.
2. Reporting illnesses in their family that cause facial swelling or other symptoms of mumps to Public Health.
3. Making sure all family members have been fully vaccinated with MMR vaccine based on the latest guidelines.
4. Washing hands with soap and water frequently, avoid sharing eating or drinking utensils, clean frequently touched surface, minimize contact with sick persons, and cover coughs with a tissue or sleeve.
This is not the first time that mumps has come to Yap but this will be the second time according to older people who had experienced the first one.
They said the first mump infection that came to the islands was somewhere in the mid 60’s.
