Health department: 6 confirmed mumps cases in Lake County

The number of confirmed mumps cases in Lake County has risen to six, and will likely continue to climb, Lake County Health Department spokesperson Leslie Piotrowski said Tuesday.

In addition to the four confirmed cases at Barrington High School, one has been confirmed in the village of Barrington, and another at Daniel Wright Junior High School in Lincolnshire, Piotrowski said.

The county's health department on Monday provided free measles, mumps and rubella vaccinations for Barrington High School staff and students. The number of probable and suspected cases throughout the county, however, could mean more people will be officially diagnosed with the virus, Piotrowski said. There are seven probable and 19 suspect cases of the mumps at Barrington High School alone, according to the Lake County Health Department.

"Even despite the number of people getting vaccinated, we do anticipate the numbers are going to rise for a while," Piotrowski said.

As of October, 43 Barrington High School students were recorded as unprotected from the mumps, according to immunization reports from Barrington School District 220. Of those who had not received vaccinations, 38 were exempt for religious reasons, four for medical reasons or objections, and one student who was considered noncompliant.

There are no plans are in place to close school in spite of the outbreak, according to Barrington School District 220's website.

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