Colorado Health Authorities Confirm 12 New Cases of Runner’s Mouth
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Public health officials in Colorado have reported 12 new cases of runner’s mouth, Dumb Runner has learned, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in that state to 44—and they fear the actual number could be much higher.
“These are just the cases that we know about,” said Margaret Houlihan, M.D., a communicable disease expert with the Colorado Department of Public Health. “For every confirmed case of runner’s mouth, we estimate there could be three to five others unreported or undiagnosed.”
Runner’s mouth, a painful condition spread mostly by coughing and sneezing, and by kissing infected runners, was virtually eliminated by the mid-2000s, Houlihan said. She blames “disinformation, misinformation, and the resultant vaccine hesitancy” for its recent resurgence.
“We had this thing beat,” she said. “Now it’s back, and it’s spreading like crazy.”
“As a public health official, I find it very alarming.”
Not everyone shares that sentiment.
“I’m not worried at all,” said Walter O'Reilly, 27, an avid runner in Fort Collins who said he’s not vaccinated against runner’s mouth and doesn’t plan to be. “My immune system can fight that stuff off on its own, and I don’t trust whatever’s in those shots.”
“Honestly, runner’s mouth isn’t even on my radar.”
