An e-mail sent to parents from Granbury I.S.D. has brought to our attention that there is a suspected case of Mumps at Granbury Middle School. Please be sure your children are using precautionary measures, just in case.

It has not been confirmed but it is a possibility. The following is the e-mail sent to parents:

This letter is to inform you of a suspected case of mumps at Granbury Middle School. While this is not a confirmed case, it is important to read the following information and recommendations as a precautionary measure to help stop the potential spread of mumps.

Signs and symptoms of mumps are vague at the onset of illness and may last for 3-4 days: low-grade fever, body aches, headache, lack of appetite, and listlessness. Symptoms appear 12 to 25 days after exposure to an infected person. Parotitis (inflammation and swelling of the salivary glands) may occur on one or both sides of the face. The child may complain of earache or tenderness at the angle of the jaw. Infected persons are most contagious just prior to, and for several days after, the onset of swelling. Severe complications from mumps are rare, but they may occur. Mumps can cause swollen testicles in some teenage and adult males.

Recommendations

Immunization is the best way to prevent mumps
1 dose of MMR (measles, mumps, rubella vaccine) should be given around 15 months of age
A 2nd dose of MMR is required for Kindergarten enrollment.
Children and staff with mumps symptoms should not attend school/childcare/public activities/family gatherings until 5 days after the swelling began or at the recommendation of your doctor
The infected individual should be isolated in their room

Persons with mumps symptoms should be evaluated by their health care provider for diagnosis and treatment
Please let the staff at your doctor’s office know about your or your child’s condition before entering the building
Thank you for your assistance in following the recommendations to prevent the spread of mumps. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact The Texas Department of State Health Services at: (817) 822-6786.