With 404 cases, Washington mumps outbreak continues to grow
04/29/2017 11:57
https://www.cnn.com/2017/02/08/health/mumps-washington-outbreak/
With 404 cases, Washington mumps outbreak continues to grow
Updated 4:49 PM ET, Thu February 9, 2017
(CNN)On Thursday, Washington state reported 404 confirmed and probable cases of mumps since October. Mumps is a contagious disease caused by a virus spread from person to person through saliva and mucus.
Two counties are reporting just one case each, while six counties have multiple cases. King County tops the list at 176 confirmed or probable cases. Spokane County has 165, Tacoma-Pierce County has 45, Grant County has nine, Snohomish County has four, Ferry County has three and Thurston and Yakima Counties each just one.
Approximately 25% of the total infections occurred among people within the 14 to 18 age group, 22% in the 10 to 13 age group, 14% in the 5 to 9 age group, 5% in the 19 to 24 age group and 3% in the infant to 4 age group. People over 25 made up the remaining reported infections. No deaths have been reported.
"It's been a continuous upwards track of new cases. However, until we reach a point where no more vulnerable people are exposed, it may continue to grow," said Dave Johnson, a spokesman for the Washington State Department of Health.