Ohio Mumps Outbreak Doubles in Size

Federal and state health officials are reporting that the number of mumps infections seen since the start of an outbreak back in March has reach a grand total of 212 confirmed cases, nearly doubling from the 116 cases reported earlier this month.

On Monday, Ohio public health officials confirmed that 132 new cases of the mumps virus infection have been identified and tied to the mumps outbreak that started in Ohio State University.

Past reports indicated that the outbreak of the highly contagious infection was primarily isolated to the university, with the majority of off-campus infection being associated with direct ties to the college. However, late last month Columbus health officials announced that new infection reports indicated a "disturbing development." Sixteen additional mumps infections had been diagnoses in the grater Columbus area without any ties to the University.

Now, approximately three weeks later, the number of confirmed and suspected cases has risen to 225 cases overall, with 190 alone located in Franklyn county, but an additional 35 potential cases now identified in other regions. Delaware, for instance, reports 22 potential cases, according to an Ohio Department of Health community mumps outbreak report updated on Tuesday.

The mumps virus spreads through coughing and sneezing, meaning it easily spreads in confined and highly populated areas such as college campuses. While a great majority of U.S. citizens have been immunized with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, officials have previously stated that the mumps part of the vaccine is only 80 to 90 percent effective at preventing infection, meaning that anyone exposed to the virus is at risk.

Still, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of cases reported annually in the U.S. has dropped by 98 percent since  immunization was introduced in the 1960s.

Oho state officials are urging citizens located in the central Ohio area to check with their doctor to make sure they have been vaccinated, and to take steps to prevent the infection of an airborne virus, including the regular washing of hands the covering one's mouth and nose when sneezing.

The Ohio Department of Health outbreak report was updated on April 15.