SHELTON, Wash.—Two incarcerated individuals at the Washington Corrections Center (WCC) presented symptoms commonly associated with mumps this week. The state Department of Corrections (DOC) engaged the state Department of Health (DOH) for immediate assistance.
Subsequently, one individual at Stafford Creek Corrections Center (SCCC) in Aberdeen, Wash. and another at Clallam Bay Corrections Center (CBCC) in Clallam Bay, Wash. have presented symptoms. As of Friday morning, four potential cases across three facilities have presented.
Both symptomatic individuals at WCC lived in the R4 unit. Residents and staff in that unit, as well as the adjacent R5 unit, will be screened. Recent former residents will be screened as well.
The symptomatic individual at SCCC had recently arrived from WCC. Their symptoms were discovered upon screening at SCCC. Contact tracing has already been conducted at SCCC.
At present, there is no evidence of a mass outbreak and cases have not been confirmed. Current measures have been implemented for an abundance of caution.
DOC staff and the incarcerated population have been advised to wash their hands often, cover their nose and mouth when they sneeze and take other precautions to prevent infection.
Mumps is a virus that can cause painful symptoms like swollen glands. The risk of spread is greater in a crowded setting like a prison. It spreads through salivary droplets transmitted aerially by coughing or conversation. It can also be spread physically by individuals sharing a plate or utensil, for example.
The MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine can help prevent infection.
Source: Washington State Department of Corrections
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
One Response
It’s pretty evident that all inmates need to receive MMR vaccinations during their first week of incarceration. It would be a nightmare for the inmate population to be infected with measles or mumps.