Mumps outbreak hits nearly 900 migrants in US detention centers



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According to a recently released government report, about 900 mumps cases have been confirmed and reported among migrants detained in 57 federal and state detention centers in 19 US states since last September.

A report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention that is to be released Friday revealed mumps outbreaks among migrants, many of whom entered illegally, rose between March and June, when the largest number of people arrived at the border and were transferred Customs and Border Protection to immigration and customs control centers where they were detained for up to three weeks.

"From September 1, 2018 to August 22, 2019, a total of 898 confirmed and probable cases of mumps (1) among adult migrants in 57 facilities (18% of the 315 US facilities with ICE * inmates) were reported in 19 states; Another 33 cases occurred among staff, "says the CDC report.

The report is the first of its kind and describes the largest outbreak of mumps ever recorded in US immigration services.

Of the 57 facilities where mumps cases were reported, 34 were operated by private companies, 19 were county jails and four were ICE facilities.

The CDC found that 84% of all cases were due to exposure while under the care of ICE or under the protection of another federal agency. Only 5% caught the infectious disease before entering the United States from Mexico and the point of exposure for the remaining 11% was undetermined. About 19 out of 20 cases were found in men.

In total, 44% of cases occurred in federal institutions and Texas states. By the end of last week, 15 facilities in seven states still have outbreaks.

The finding comes amid concerns over CBP and ICE failing to provide influenza vaccines to inmates. Recently published autopsies have shown that three out of six recent deaths in children in post-traumatic treatment centers were attributable to influenza, although it is unclear whether vaccination could have prevented these deaths.

The mumps crisis began last October when state health services in Texas confirmed five cases among inmates transferred to his care.

In December, eight facilities in Texas and six in five other states reported 67 cases to the ICE Health Services Corps and local health departments.

In January, six other state health departments had confirmed new mumps outbreaks, prompting the CDC and ICE to set up a unified national response. "Identifying and vaccinating close contacts of exposed or symptomatic people with mumps in detention centers is a challenge," the report says.

The virus causes swelling of the salivary glands and tenderness on both sides of the face, which can cause swelling of the cheeks. Patients may also have fever, headache, muscle aches, exhaustion and loss of appetite.

At least 13 people were hospitalized, but the federal government did not report a death. Mumps has an incubation period of 12 to 25 days before the onset of symptoms.

ICE has provided more than 25,000 doses of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. However, the vaccine is the least effective against mumps.

About 16,000 cases have been reported nationally in the total population since 2015.

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