HHS: no mumps in Broomfield or state
but plan in place if cases appear  

While there have been no confirmed cases of mumps in the Broomfield area, or in Colorado, public health officials are following developments of cases nationally, and Broomfield HHS has a plan in place should any cases occur locally. 

“Our mission is to keep everyone in our community healthy and safe, so we’re monitoring the mumps disease outbreak in Iowa very carefully,” reports John Pickle, Broomfield public health officer. 

Mumps is spread by direct exposure to someone who has the disease, through coughing, saliva, or touching infected objects.   Symptoms include fever followed by swelling of the glands in front of the ear. Mumps often results in swelling of other glands that secrete saliva.  In adults and in more serious cases, the disease can lead to deafness, complications to the male reproductive system and even risk to a fetus.   

Mumps has traditionally been thought of as a ‘childhood’ illness but many of the confirmed cases in Iowa are college-age students and young adults.   The medical community used to believe that only one mumps vaccination was effective, but recently discovered that people need two in order to be protected.  Adults born before 1957 are considered by public health officials to be immune or naturally protected against the disease because it was very common at that time. 

There were several types of vaccines between 1957 and 1993 and public health experts now feel this age group may have decreased immunity and be at greater risk to develop symptoms if exposed to mumps.  Local public health entities are encouraging persons born between 1957 and 1993 to consult a physician for current vaccination information.  

Like many other diseases, mumps is preventable, but only when individuals are properly immunized.  Broomfield public health staff is working with our local medical experts and other public health entities to help prevent an outbreak in Broomfield.   Additional information may be obtained from the Broomfield Health and Human Services Department at 720.887.2220.