Mumps Cases In Sanpete County Prompt School District To Keep Unvaccinated Students Home

MT. PLEASANT, Utah — Two confirmed cases of the mumps and a suspected third person infected with the disease in Sanpete County tonight have prompted the North Sanpete School District to keep a number of unvaccinated students out of school.

As people arrived to the Central Utah Health Department in Mt. Pleasant Tuesday, they were greeted with a sign, informing them to stay outside if they have any symptoms of the mumps.

With one confirmed case involving a student in the North Sanpete School District, upwards of ten percent of students are being told to stay home.

“Our understanding of state law is that students can attend school without vaccinations and they are considered exempt, but if there is an outbreak of a disease for which they are not immunized, state law also says that they can’t come to school,” said Dr. Sam Ray, the superintendent of the North Sanpete School District.

Exempt means they haven’t been immunized or did not provide proof of their vaccinations when registering for school.

A sign posted outside the Central Utah Health Department in Mt. Pleasant Tuesday.

That’s why the local health department held a special clinic to provide immunizations for those interested and to help prevent the spread of the mumps in the rural county.

“It can take up to two weeks to get the full protection, but it starts to build the immunity as the days go by,” said Alicia Beckstead, the director of nursing with the Central Utah Health Department.

She said once a student’s immunizations are current, they can return to school.

“For those that are exempt or not vaccinated, that aren’t in school, if they receive the vaccine, they can go back to school immediately after receiving the vaccine,” she added.

Health officials say becoming vaccinated is the most effective way to avoid becoming sick.

The mumps is a relatively contagious disease, and those infected often report flu like symptoms, with the swelling of glands on the neck.

If no more cases are confirmed in the area, it will be three weeks until unvaccinated students can return to school.

“We are doing everything we can to work with the health department and state, to do everything possible to help our employees, our students and our families,” said Dr. Ray.