The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR), Division of Public Health identified two laboratory-confirmed mumps cases among Georgia residents during the second week of May 2006. The two confirmed Mumps cases in Georgia, however, have no known link to the outbreak in the Midwest or any link to each other.

“These reports follow a large ongoing multi-state mumps outbreak that began in Iowa in December 2005,” said Dr. Stuart Brown, Director, Division of Public Health at DHR. “Because most people have been vaccinated, mumps is now a rare disease in the United States. Public Health officials in Georgia typically investigate several suspected mumps cases a year. Of these, a few are confirmed as mumps. At this time, it is likely that the two current Georgia cases represent typical mumps infections that are expected annually and are not related to the outbreak in the Midwest.”

Although the Georgia cases appear to have no link to the outbreak, DHR’s Division of Public Health recommends that residents review their immunization records to be sure they have been appropriately vaccinated for mumps. Two doses of combination measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, separated by at least 28 days, are routinely recommended for all children. The first dose is given on or after the first birthday; the second is given at 4 - 6 years of age.

Most adults who have not been vaccinated or have not had mumps should receive one dose of MMR vaccine, but adults who work in healthcare, a school or university setting, and persons at high risk of exposure to mumps should get 2 doses. Adults born before 1957 are generally considered immune.

However, if a person cannot remember if they had mumps or if the disease was not diagnosed by a physician, then that person is not considered immune and vaccination is recommended. MMR is a live, weakened (attenuated) vaccine so is not recommended for pregnant women and persons with an impaired immune system. The MMR vaccine is available through health care providers or local health departments.

Mumps is a virus spread by mucus or droplets from the nose or throat of an infected person, usually when a person coughs or sneezes. Surfaces of items (e.g. toys, doorknobs, etc.) can also spread the virus if someone who is sick touches them without washing their hands, and someone else touches the same surface and then rubs their eyes, mouth, or nose.

Symptoms of mumps include fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite; followed by swelling of salivary glands. The parotid salivary glands (which are located in the cheek, near the jaw line, below the ears) are most frequently affected. Mumps symptoms typically appear 16-18 days after contact with the virus, but can range from 12-25 days. An infected person is considered contagious three days before the start of symptoms until 9 days after the neck swelling.

Other things people can do to prevent mumps and other infections is to wash hands well and often with soap, and teach children to wash their hands. Eating utensils should not be shared, and surfaces that are frequently touched should be cleaned regularly with soap and water, or with cleaning wipes. If a person develops mumps-like symptoms, they should contact their health care provider immediately. To help prevent the spread of mumps, persons with the disease should stay home for nine days after the neck swelling appears.

With assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, health departments in all fifty states have been investigating suspect mumps cases in their jurisdictions during the past three to four months. Several states surrounding Iowa have identified an increase in mumps cases and most cases have a documented link to an outbreak-related case.

If you have additional questions about mumps or MMR vaccine, please consult your local health care provider or local health department or visit http://health.state.ga.us/ and see Multi-state Mumps Outbreak.

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