Mumps
Make sure your vaccinations are up to date! Watch for symptoms and contact a health care provider if you experience symptoms.
Mumps is a contagious viral illness, characterized by fever, headaches, and swollen salivary
glands under the jaw. Meningitis, encephalitis, permanent hearing loss, and other
serious complications can also occur.
An effective vaccine is available for mumps, and has led to mumps being considered uncommon in the United States, with an average of fewer than 500 cases reported annually. In spite of this, cases and outbreaks of mumps continue to occur in the United States, and providers should remain vigilant.
Alaska Surveillance Data
During 2011-2016, Alaska received an average of <1 case report per year. However from May 2017-September 2018, an outbreak of mumps occurred that sickened 391 people statewide. The outbreak is summarized in an Epidemiology Bulletin.
The Alaska Section of Epidemiology (AK-SOE) continues to recommend routine vaccination and prevention strategies, including staying home when sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and washing hands frequently. Vaccination of adolescents and adults with an outbreak dose of MMR vaccine is no longer recommended.
Resources for Healthcare Providers
Report ALL suspected cases to AK-SOE at 907-269-8000 during business hours or by fax using the Infectious Disease Report Form (907-563-7868, 24-hours a day).
Persons are infectious from 2 days before the onset of parotitis until 5 days after swelling started. Be sure to remind suspect mumps cases to home isolate until they are no longer infectious to others.
Mumps disease is a public health reportable condition in Alaska. Reports must be made within 2 working days after being
suspected or diagnosed. Please call the Alaska Section of Epidemiology
at 907-269-8000.
Resources for the General Public
Infectious Disease Program Resources
