By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews
The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) is investigating six mumps cases in Bernalillo County.
The cases are in people ages ranging from seven to 41 years.
“We are encouraging health care providers to be on the lookout for additional mumps cases,” said Department of Health Secretary Kathy Kunkel. “If people start experiencing mumps-like symptoms, they should contact their doctor.”
Mumps is spread through the air and by droplets of saliva or mucus from the mouth, nose, or throat of an infected person, usually when the person coughs or sneezes. The virus can be spread through shared use of drinks, cups, or eating utensils. In addition, the virus may spread when someone with mumps touches an item or surface without washing their hands and someone else touches the same surface and rubs their mouth or nose. If you were exposed to mumps, you could become ill 12 to 25 days later. Some people who get mumps have very mild or no symptoms, and often they do not know they have the disease.
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Symptoms of mumps include swollen and tender salivary glands under the ear or jaw on one or both sides of the face, fever, headache and muscle aches.
Mumps is a highly contagious disease that is typically preventable through vaccination. Two doses of MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella) are recommended.
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