Central Ohio Mumps Outbreak Outnumbers Nation in 2013

The number of mumps cases in Central Ohio now exceeds all of the cases nationwide last year. Columbus Health reports 439 cases to date. That compares with 438 nationally last year. "The large number of cases in this mumps outbreak is a grim reminder that highly infectious, vaccine preventable diseases can spread quickly and affect large numbers of people," said Columbus Health Commissioner Dr. Teresa Long. "We are only protected when our community is protected, and anytime we have unvaccinated and under-vaccinated groups, we are all at risk," Long said. Health officials in Franklin, Delaware and Madison counties continue to urge people without vaccinations to get the MMR vaccine as soon as possible.