Amid debate over whether the outbreak of mumps is slowing in Iowa, the vaccine is being offered to more people. State epidemiologist Patricia Quinlisk says in some areas where the disease hit early and hard, it may be that everyone who’s going to get it, got it. But she’s not ready to say the outbreak is over, or even slowing down, despite reports to the contrary.
The Department of Public Health has plenty of doses of mumps vaccine that didn’t interest the college-age clients in their prime target group, so it’ll expand the offer of free shots to Iowans 26 through 46 years old. Quinlisk says with school getting out, the virus may lose its foothold among young adults. With college students dispersing transmission may go down, hopefully meaning fewer cases. The tally this week — 16-hundred 9 cases of mumps in Iowa.