Eleven Cases of Mumps Confirmed in Fresno County Jail
FRESNO, CA- On Thursday, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and the Fresno County Department of Health received the results of tests recently taken to determine the possible presence of the Mumps virus in the Fresno County Jail. The State of California confirmed 11 inmates tested positive for Mumps.
The Sheriff’s Office first became aware on January 23rd that the Mumps virus might be present in the North Annex Jail. At that time, jail staff and our jail medical provider, Wellpath, put several precautionary measures in place, which continue to remain in effect. This includes the implementation of quarantining inmates in specific areas to
ensure there is no additional spread of any potential health-related illness.
Approximately 300 inmates are affected by the quarantine. All inmates are being assessed daily and immunizations are being offered to both inmates and jail staff.
Mumps is a viral infection that primarily affects saliva-producing (salivary) glands that are located near your ears an may lead to swelling. People at risk of contracting Mumps are those who are not vaccinated and expose themselves to close-contact settings such as schools, college campuses and correctional facilities. Signs and symptoms are typically known to develop 12 – 25 days after infection. Mumps can be serious, but most people
with mumps recover completely within two weeks.
To combat the Mumps virus, a Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine is available. A person with two doses of MMR vaccine has about an 90% reduction in risk for mumps; a person with one dose has an 80% reduction in risk for mumps.
If you become infected with Mumps, reduce the spread by avoiding contact with people for five days after your salivary glands begin to swell, since this is when you are most contagious. It is also important for EVERYONE to wash their hands often.
Inmates in the quarantined area are currently being allowed one visitation per week.
The booking and release process is not being impacted by the virus. However, Wasco State Prison is not accepting any sentenced inmates into its facility until the quarantine is lifted.
All inmates going through the release process are given educational health materials.
All business at the Fresno Superior Courthouse is currently functioning normally. At this time, the court is not calling any of the quarantined inmates to the courthouse until the quarantine is lifted.
There is an ongoing investigation to try and determine who the original inmate is that contracted the Mumps virus.