D'Jais Bar Closes Over Mumps Scare

D’Jais Bar & Grill will be closed this weekend following an outbreak of mumps and mumps-like illnesses that have been traced to the popular Belmar nightclub, health officials said Friday.

The Monmouth County Health Department has positively confirmed one case of mumps in the county, with 26 other cases under investigation, according to a health department release.

“Lab results now positively confirm one case of mumps,” County public health coordinator Michael Meddis said in the release. “Another 26 cases continue to be under investigation because the people involved have varying degrees of mumps-like symptoms that have not been confirmed or ruled out as mumps.”

With the exception of one pre-school aged child, all of those with suspected mumps are adults. The median age of the individuals under investigation is 27. Most of the individuals have either been patrons or employees of D’Jais Bar and Grill in Belmar, the release says.

“The staff and management and ownership of D’Jais have all been very cooperative and most helpful in advancing this investigation,” said Monmouth County Administrator Teri O’Connor in the release. “Additionally, the Borough of Belmar continues to assist as we work our way through this public health issue.” 

D’Jais has voluntarily closed its this weekend. D’Jais has received and carried out cleaning and sanitizing recommendations from the health department.

“The Health Department’s investigation over the past several days has helped identify the most likely source of this local mumps incident,” said Meddis. “We will continue to monitor, evaluate and investigate cases.”

Meddis did not reveal the source of the infection, however.

The Monmouth County Health Department asks that if you are experiencing the swelling of salivary glands along with fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness and loss of appetite you should seek medical attention and call the Health Department at 732-431-7456.

The mumps virus is spread by droplets of saliva or mucus from the mouth, nose, or throat of an infected person, usually when the person coughs, sneezes or talks. Items used by an infected person, such as cups or soft drink cans, can also be contaminated with the virus, which may spread to others if those items are shared, the release says 

“Healthcare providers and public health officials should remain vigilant for patients presenting with an illness clinically compatible with mumps,” said Meddis. “To prevent the further spread of this disease, health care professionals need to continue to monitor and report every possible diagnosis of mumps.”

People who were vaccinated with two doses the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine, as an infant and again between the ages of 4 and 6, are 90 percent less likely to contract mumps, according to the Centers for Disease Control, the release says.

If you have mumps, or most other illnesses, there are several things you can do to help prevent spreading the virus to others:

· Wash hands well and often with soap, and teach children to wash their hands too.

·Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and put your used tissue in the trash can. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands.

·Stay home from work or school for five days after your glands begin to swell, and try not to have close contact with other people who live in your house.

Other recommendations are:

·Minimize close contact with other people, especially babies and people with weakened immune systems who cannot be vaccinated.

· Don’t share drinks or eating utensils.

·Regularly clean surfaces that are frequently touched (such as toys, doorknobs, tables, counters) with soap and water or with cleaning wipes.

Mumps is spread by droplets of saliva or mucus from the mouth, nose, or throat of an infected person, usually when the person coughs, sneezes or talks. Items used by an infected person, such as cups or soft drink cans, can also be contaminated with the virus, which may spread to others if those items are shared.

Most mumps transmissions likely occur before the salivary glands begin to swell and within the 5 days after the swelling begins. Therefore, CDC recommends isolating mumps patients for 5 days after their glands begin to swell.

Anyone who presents such symptoms should contact their health care professional immediately. 

More information about mumps is available from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website athttp://www.cdc.gov/mumps/index.html.