Hmm, let me see. This is the worst outbreak in 20 years? Lets see, the last amnesty was around 1986? This would be about 20 years ago. Coincidence?





http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7003320935

Midwest Mumps Outbreak Continues, Still No Clues As To Origin

April 25, 2006 8:30 p.m. EST



Matthew Borghese - All Headline News Staff Writer

Des Moines, IA (AHN) - The numbers of reported cases of the mumps continues to rise in the Midwest United States, spreading now to Colorado.

Iowa is currently at the center of the outbreak, where the state's Department of Public Health says there are 1,120 confirmed, probable and suspect cases, coming from 69 out of Iowa's 99 counties.

In Colorado, the Department of Public Health and Environment confirms that a 45-year-old woman from Douglas County tested positive for the disease.

Officials say that despite Colorado typically reporting several cases a year of the mumps, this woman had recently visited Iowa.

Dr. Ned Calonge, the state's chief medical officer explains, "This one case does not indicate we have a mumps outbreak in Colorado."

"But, it is an important warning signal for parents, who should make certain their children are fully immunized against all childhood diseases, including mumps."

U.S. health officials say that these cases represent the worst outbreak in 20 years, while authorities still have no solid answer as to what started it.

According to the Houston Chronicle, mumps is spread by coughing and sneezing. The most common symptoms are fever, headache and swollen salivary glands under the jaw. It can lead to more severe problems, such as hearing loss, meningitis and swollen testicles, which can lead to infertility. It does not respond to antibiotics.