HASTINGS — Physicians at Hastings Family Care want the public to be aware of recent outbreaks of the mumps in Nebraska.
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has seen a significant increase in mumps cases recently. 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).
Symptoms of mumps, which is an infection of salivary glands caused by the mumps virus, can appear 14-25 days following exposure. Symptoms include fever, headache, swollen salivary glands under the jaw, hearing loss, aseptic meningitis (infection of the brain and spinal cord) and painful, swollen testicles in 20-30 percent of males who have reached puberty.
Dr. Zach Frey said anyone with symptoms of mumps should stay home until five days after the first day of swelling. Individuals are most contagious three days before onset of swelling through four days after. However, the period of communicability is from six to seven days before onset of swelling to nine days after onset.
Dr. Frey emphasized that the mumps vaccine is the best defense against the infection.
“Most children receive their first doses of mumps vaccine, given as combination MMR vaccine, on or after their first birthday,” Frey said. “The second dose is given at 4-6 years old.”
Anyone who has not been vaccinated or feels they are at risk for infection should contact their healthcare provider for advice on receiving a booster or MMR series, Frey said.
Information on mumps and the vaccine is available by calling Hastings Family Care at 402-463-2929