MDPH - Mar 9, 2010. MDPH alerted clinicians and public health officials to the ongoing mumps outbreak that primarily affected members of a tradition-observant Jewish community in New York and New Jersey. Recent reports indicated that the outbreak continues to spread, with over 2,000 cases total, and cases spreading to New England and Canada. Although little transmission occurred so far outside the initial community, mumps can spread rapidly in congregate settings such as colleges and schools. So far this year, there have been two confirmed and two probable cases of mumps in Massachusetts; one of the confirmed cases and both of the probable cases are associated with the NY/NJ outbreak. Health officials and clinicians heightened surveillance for mumps and ensured that children and adults are appropriately vaccinated. Please note that there have been revisions to (1) the infectious period for mumps and (2) the criteria for acceptable evidence of immunity for health care workers. View more info on the MDPH website, click here.

MDPH - Mar 29, 2010. Flu Update. While flu activity remains relatively low nationally, the Southeast is experiencing increases in activity, according to the March 14-20, 2010 FluView. CDC estimates that between 42 million and 86 million 2009 H1N1 cases occurred between April 2009 and February 13, 2010. A large number of people in the US are likely to have antibody or immunity against 2009 H1N1 from vaccination and/or infection with 2009 H1N1. However, with a population of more than 300 million in this country, a substantial number of people likely remain susceptible to 2009 H1N1, which continues to circulate at this time. CDC continues to recommend vaccination against 2009 H1N1. Ongoing vaccination of people with certain health conditions is particularly important because most cases of serious 2009 H1N1 illness have occurred in people with underlying medical conditions. Health conditions that increase the risk of being hospitalized from 2009 H1N1 include lung disease like asthma or chronic pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, heart disease, or neurologic disease and pregnancy. In addition, minority populations have been harder-hit by the 2009 H1N1 pandemic than non-minority groups. It remains very important that antiviral drugs be used early to treat flu in people who are very sick (e.g., people who are in the hospital) and people who are sick with flu and have a greater chance of getting serious flu complications, like people with asthma or diabetes, or women who are pregnant, or people who are 65 and older.