Kansas Mumps Cases Reach Total of 839 as of July 24

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has received reports of 839 mumps (confirmed/probable) cases in 71 Kansas counties as of Monday, July 24.

The majority of the cases are concentrated in Douglas County (299 as of July 24), but there are also cases in Allen, Anderson, Atchison, Barton, Bourbon, Brown, Butler, Chase, Clay, Cloud, Coffey, Cowley, Crawford, Dickinson, Edwards, Ellis, Finney, Ford, Franklin, Geary, Gove, Grant, Gray, Greenwood, Harvey, Haskell, Jackson, Jefferson, Jewell, Johnson, Kearny, Kingman, Labette, Leavenworth, Lincoln, Lyon, Marion, Marshall, McPherson, Miami, Mitchell, Montgomery, Nemaha, Neosho, Ness, Norton, Osage, Osborne, Pawnee, Phillips, Pottawatomie, Pratt, Rawlins, Reno, Riley, Rooks, Rush, Saline, Scott, Sedgwick, Seward, Shawnee, Sheridan, Sherman, Stafford, Thomas, Wabaunsee, Washington, Woodson and Wyandotte counties.

For more detailed information about mumps cases in Kansas, please visit the KDHE Web site at www.kdheks.gov/immunize/mumps.html. The most recent KDHE report on mumps cases by county can be downloaded from that Web page.

Iowa health officials have reported 1,936 cases of mumps as of July 22.

Mumps is usually a relatively mild viral infection. It is transmitted through saliva, coughing, sneezing or being in close contact (within three feet of the person for an hour). Symptoms include fever, swelling and tenderness in glands around the neck and jaw. Laboratory tests can be useful in diagnosis, especially if the symptoms are not typical, if a person has been vaccinated, or if they had the disease in the past.

Individuals who contract mumps are considered contagious from three days prior to symptoms appearing to four days following the appearance of symptoms. Mumps can be severe, although this is very rare. Severe cases can result in long-term illness including meningitis, deafness and sterility in men.

KDHE recommends that anyone who has not received two doses of the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine in their lifetime do so in order to protect against mumps. The first vaccination is given in the first year of life. The second can be given a few months later, but must be given prior to school entry. MMR vaccination is required for kindergarten school entry in Kansas.

People should also practice good hand washing, avoid sharing drinking cups and eating utensils, and avoid close contact with anyone who has the mumps.

Note to Reporters/Editors: KDHE will post our weekly updates regarding mumps on the KDHE Web site, but due to the reduction in cases we are experiencing in the state, we will no longer do a weekly news release. For weekly updates, please see "Mumps Epi Report" at http://www.kdheks.gov/immunize/mumps.html. This update will be posted every Wednesday.

Back to KDHE News Release Index