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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Idaho’s Latah County sees spike in mumps cases

MOSCOW, Idaho – Health officials say there are 10 laboratory confirmed cases of mumps in Latah County and another 20 possible cases, a high number for the area.

“This is very unusual for us,” said epidemiologist and registered nurse Anna Olson, adding it’s rare for the North Central District of Idaho Public Health to see any cases.

The cases include an elementary student as well as several college-age students, the Moscow-Pullman Daily News reported.

Mumps first appeared in 2014 on the Palouse in October, when two University of Idaho students were found to have the virus, followed by an elementary school student and several more UI students.

“The mumps vaccination won’t work on 100 percent of the population,” Olson said. “That explains some of the cases.”

The University of Idaho has been working with Public Health to raise awareness with students through a health and hygiene campaign.

The department also recommends students be certain they have received a mumps vaccination.