Read EPISD Letter About Mumps Cases At Andress High School

To vaccinate your child or to not vaccinate your child - that is the question that all parents have to answer. Recently, the El Paso Independent School District sent a letter to parents of students at Andress High School informing them that three cases of mumps had been reported.

If you have any questions about a possible exposure to mumps, you can call the El Paso Department of Public Health.

From the EPISD letter to parents:

"Mumps is a contagious viral infection characterized by the acute onset of swelling and
pain mainly of the parotid glands (parotitis) - salivary glands located in the area below
where the jaw and ear meet.
Mumps is spread by droplets of saliva or mucus from the mouth, nose, or throat of an
infected person, usually when the person coughs, sneezes or talks. Items used by an
infected person, such as cups or utensils, can also be contaminated with the virus, which
may spread to others if those items are shared. The time from being infected with the
virus to developing symptoms can be as long as 25 days, but is typically 16-18 days.
People with mumps are infectious three days before, to five days after the onset of
parotitis. Infected people without symptoms of mumps, may potentially be able to transmit
the virus.
Anyone diagnosed with mumps or suspected of having mumps should stay home for five
days after the onset of parotitis. If your child experience mumps symptoms, please
contact your healthcare provider and inform them of your child’s exposure to mumps. If you have any questions about mumps, please call the City of El Paso Department of Public Health at (915) 212-6520."