Gallatin County works to contain mumps outbreak in Bozeman schools - The Bozeman Daily Chronicle

To stagnate a mumps outbreak among Bozeman elementary students, school and health officials have prevented some children without a vaccine from going to class.

Gallatin City-County Health Department workers found five cases of the viral disease this week. The only case confirmed by a lab test was a Morning Star Elementary School student.

Health Officer Matt Kelley said students without a vaccination have been stopped from attending school for now. Because mumps takes a while to show itself, that prohibition could last until the new year.

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“We’re not forcing anyone to get a vaccine. It’s about the risk that is present in a school for them,” he said. “Kids that are up-to-date on their recommended immunizations required for school likely have a great deal of immunity to this.”

Montana law mandates kids are vaccinated against mumps. Parents with kids beyond child care can either get a medical exception — which takes a note from a health provider — or file for a religious exemption.

Bozeman Public Schools Superintendent Rob Watson said less than 4 percent of the district’s students have one of those exemptions.

It can take 12 to 25 days for someone to show symptoms once infected. A typical sign of the disease is swelling along the face and jaw. Other symptoms could be a fever or headache.

The virus is typically passed from person to person through spit. Kelley said this time of year, it’s a safe practice not to share utensils or cups to avoid getting sick.

“We feel we understand the scope of this [outbreak] and we’re doing what we can to contain it,” Kelley said. “It’s kind of a waiting game now to see if we develop any other cases.”

Kelley said kids who didn’t have direct contact with the virus may be able to get a shot and head back to school.

Watson said for those who either can’t get the vaccine or chose not to, Morning Star staff will work with families to ensure kids don’t fall too far behind.

“We’ve been down this road before where kids get excluded,” Watson said. “Anything we can send home, we send it home. Along the way, we try to keep them caught up and the teachers do a really good job of staying in touch with families.”

This latest string of illness brings Gallatin County to seven recorded mumps cases so far this year.

Vaccination against the illness has been a game changer in the U.S. After two shots, the vaccine is 88 percent effective, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

The nation’s pre-vaccination era recorded roughly 186,000 cases a year — which health officials say probably doesn’t reflect the full scope of people infected. There were roughly 6,000 cases reported in 2017.

Health officials said people who develop symptoms should visit their doctor. They should also stay away from public gatherings until five days after their symptoms start.

Since mumps is a virus, antibiotics can’t treat the disease. The majority of people can recover with rest and fluids.

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