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Case of Mumps in Coeur d'Alene Prompts Outbreak Fears

Photo Courtesy of Sanofi Pasteur via Flickr
Mumps VIrus

One case of mumps in Coeur d’Alene has prompted the school district to notify parents that if the outbreak worsens, unvaccinated students may be sent home.

The single case of mumps that was reported was that of an adult over age 50. That person is no longer contagious, but panhandle health officials worry there will be more. A couple hundred mumps cases have been reported in nearby Spokane.

Coeur d’Alene School District Superintendent Mathew Handleman says they sent letters to parents notifying them that if two or more cases show up in a particular school, any students who aren’t up to date on mumps vaccinations won’t be allowed in class. Handleman said, “You know there certainly parents here who choose to exempt their children from different or all immunizations, and we have to honor that. At the same time, we have an obligation to exclude those children from school, if there is an outbreak in the school.”

Handleman says any students that may have to be turned away from attending because of lack of vaccination would not be allowed back in until 26 days after the last identified case is reported. The Panhandle Health District has free vaccines available.

Steve was part of the Spokane Public Radio family for many years before he came on air in 1999. His wife, Laurie, produced Radio Ethiopia in the late 1980s through the '90s, and Steve used to “lurk in the shadowy world” of Weekend SPR. Steve has done various on air shifts at the station, including nearly 15 years as the local Morning Edition host. Currently, he is the voice of local weather and news during All Things Considerd, writing, editing, producing and/or delivering newscasts and features for both KPBX and KSFC. Aside from SPR, Steve ,who lives in the country, enjoys gardening, chickens, playing and listening to music, astronomy, photography, sports cars and camping.