The mumps outbreak in Northwest Arkansas has spread to 492 people, and officials are still seeing many new cases, according to a news release from the Arkansas Department of Health.
The outbreak has hit Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville and Huntsville schools, according to the news release. What's more, while the rate of new cases had seemed to be slowing, it is now rising again, the news release stated.
A mass clinic with the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine will be held Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Jones Center in Springdale, according to the news release. The flu vaccine will also be offered. Both will be free.
“We are very concerned about this outbreak,” Dr. Dirk Haselow, state Epidemiologist and outbreak response medical director for the department, said in the news release. “Mumps can have serious complications. We are seeing transmission from child to child in school settings, and we continue to see a high number of new cases.”