By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

Nebraska health officials report seeing an increase in mumps cases  related to two separate outbreaks. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has seen at least 30 cases have been identified mainly among attendees of a wedding in Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department’s jurisdiction (Cedar, Dixon, Thurston and Wayne counties) and a workplace in Four Corners Health Department’s jurisdiction (Butler, Polk, York and Seward counties).

Mumps/THD

The outbreak investigation is ongoing.

“Mumps is a highly contagious illness and it’s spread by coughing, sneezing and sharing saliva,” said Dr. Tom Safranek, State Epidemiologist for DHHS. “If people start experiencing mumps-like symptoms, they should contact their health care provider, and health care providers should be on the lookout for mumps cases.”

Mumps is a highly infectious disease passed through saliva and respiratory secretions. Symptoms often include tender swollen glands below the ear or along the jawline on one or both sides of the face and neck, headache, fever, and cold-like symptoms. People with mumps are considered infectious from two days before swelling begins through five days after the start of swelling.

For most people, two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine provide adequate immunity to the infection.

Last year, Nebraska reported 12 mumps cases followed by six in 2017.

Nationally, from January 1 to July 19, 2019, 45 states and the District of Columbia have reported mumps infections in 1,799 people to CDC.