Oshana’s mumps cases hit 24

Tuyeimo HaidulaOSHAKATIThe Oshana regional health directorate on Monday confirmed an outbreak of mumps at the Oshakati West Primary School, with 24 cases recorded.Senior medical officer Josephine Kanyama said the ministry sent a team to assess the situation on Monday morning. She said 16 learners were symptomatic and had to be sent back home. Of the 24 cases, eight learners didn’t come to school.“The situation is under control. We will arrange for masks to prevent further spread,” she said.Kanyama added that the confirmed cases have been advised to stay at home and isolate for the next five days, while the medical team also provided medication.SymptomsParents should make sure learners isolate and are not sent back to school until they no longer show any symptoms, she said.“If the situation is getting worse and the infected learners continue to feel feverish, they can seek further medical attention.”According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, mumps is an acute viral illness best known for the puffy cheeks and tender, swollen jaw it causes. “This is a result of swollen salivary glands under the ears on one or both sides.”Illness lasts about three to seven days and those infected usually recover within two weeks. Other symptoms include fever, headaches, muscle aches, tiredness and a loss of appetite.Symptoms typically appear 16 to 18 days after infection, but this period can range from 12 to 25 days, Kanyama said. The disease spreads through direct contact with saliva or respiratory droplets from the mouth, nose or throat.She stressed that an infected person can infect others through coughing, sneezing, talking, sharing items that may have saliva on them and kissing.No vaccine at stateAccording to Kanyama, the mumps vaccine is the best way to decrease children’s risk of infection, but the challenge is that it is currently not available at state hospitals.“It is usually given as part of a combination vaccine that protects against three diseases: Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR). Children should get two doses of the MMR vaccine,” she said.Meanwhile, Vyolla Coimbra, a life skills teacher who also doubles as the school councillor at Oshakati West Primary School, said they have the situation under control.She said cases - the first of which was recorded mid-February - are steadily on the rise.“Some learners are not recorded due to absence and we are still to establish why they have not shown up for classes,” she said.“I gathered the learners and educated them on how to stay safe and avoid further infections.”The school teaches pre-primary to grade seven.

Oshana’s mumps cases hit 24

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-18

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Oshana’s mumps cases hit 24

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-18

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