ROGERS -- The mumps outbreak affecting several Northwest Arkansas public schools and businesses could last through the winter holidays or beyond, but the vaccine will make it easier to bear even for those exposed, the Arkansas state epidemiologist said Wednesday.
Dr. Dirk Haselow, the epidemiologist with the Arkansas Department of Health, gave a rundown of the virus, its workings and its prevention to about 100 Rogers parents and nurses during a presentation Wednesday evening at Heritage High School. The department counted 150 confirmed or suspected cases by then, mostly in Springdale but also including three Rogers students.
The number's likely to rise, because the virus can linger undetected for almost four weeks before causing swollen salivary glands, fever and other symptoms, and many people who contract it don't show symptoms at all, Haselow said. That also means the outbreak could last for months.
"So this is an outbreak that will evolve slowly -- it will rise slowly and it will drop slowly," he said.
Haselow delivered some comforting information. The virus can be spread by coughing or sneezing, but it doesn't linger on counters or other surfaces, for example, because the virus will effectively die "within minutes" if it's not in a human host. About 12 percent of people who've received the vaccine can still contract the virus, but the illness will be shorter, less painful and less likely to be spread to others.
The department's been keeping track of cases and those they've been in contact with, providing targeted vaccine clinics to any contacts who aren't up to date with vaccines and recommending everyone with the virus stay home, Haselow and other officials have said. A public clinic will be available Sept. 21 at The Jones Center in Springdale.
Haselow also gave new details to the outbreak itself. Most cases have been among kids between 5 and 17 years old. The Health Department's been able to confirm the vaccination status of 100 of the cases, and of those, about two-thirds were vaccinated but fell within the 12 percent effectiveness gap.
Much of the almost two-hour talk also went to answering parents' questions. Many wondered about the particulars of the vaccine. Others voiced concern or frustration with apparently conflicting information about cases; for example, one said a school alerted parents to a possible case only to cancel the alert later the same day.
Juanita Casey, the district's head nurse, apologized for the confusion and told anyone with questions to call a school nurse. Haselow said rumors and changing information are common in outbreaks, adding the Health Department would provide an online list of affected schools within a few days.
"Rest assured, if you haven't heard anything from your school, there have been no cases (there)," district superintendent Marlin Berry told the group.
Peggy Wittersheim, whose daughter attends Reagan Elementary School, called the session helpful, particularly because it taught her people between 30 and 59, including herself, often haven't gotten the recommended second vaccine dose. She planned to get the second one soon.
"It's helpful to know what to look for and what to do about it at this point," Wittersheim said.
One parent also voiced annoyance at the parents who don't vaccinate their children, saying the state should require it. Arkansas law allows parents to be exempt from vaccine requirements for medical, religious or other reasons, including personal objections to vaccines.
Students who aren't vaccinated against a particular disease must stay home during an outbreak. For mumps, that means 26 days away from school since the last case found at that school. Several legislators earlier this week criticized the policy, with Rep. Jana Della Rosa, R-Rogers, saying it's "like a punishment."
Haselow encouraged parents concerned about the policy to contact their legislators.
NW News on 09/15/2016