14 Potential Cases Of Mumps At Harris County Jail; 600 quarantined

Dr. David Persse, Houston’s local health authority and EMS medical director, said Thursday there are 14 potential cases of mumps at the Harris County jail. Seven cases, six inmates and one staff member, had been confirmed as of Thursday morning.

The Houston Health Department is leading the response to the mumps outbreak. A spokesman told News 88.7 that the individuals who have been confirmed sick and those who have symptoms have been isolated. About 300 inmates who may have been exposed to the mumps virus are in quarantine. {revised to 600}

Persse said at a news conference held at the headquarters for the Harris County Sheriff’s Office that his department is reasonably concerned about the outbreak “because, in a small percentage of patients, there are serious complications,” such as swelling and damage of reproductive organs, which can cause sterility, as well as inflammation of the brain. Mumps can also be dangerous for pregnant women.

Jail medical staff first recognized a symptomatic inmate in mid-May. No new cases were identified until last week or so, according to Persse. “That fits exactly what we would expect for the natural incubation period of mumps,” he said.

Read more: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2019/06/13/336540/update-14-potential-cases-of-mumps-at-harris-county-jail/