United States: Hawaii mumps outbreak declared over /update 5

Event

On October 5, the Hawaii State Department of Health declared that the mumps outbreak, ongoing in Hawaii since March 2017, had ended. No new cases of the disease had been reported in the 50 days preceding that date, two times the maximum incubation period for mumps. A total of 1009 cases of the illness were reported over the course of the outbreak.

Although the outbreak has concluded, health officials continue to recommend routine vaccinations and normal hygienic precautions (wash hands frequently, cover coughs and sneezes, etc.).

Context

Mumps is an extremely contagious viral disease which is spread via airborne droplets emitted from the upper respiratory tract. Symptoms may include fever, headache, fatigue, and loss of appetite, followed by the swelling of the salivary (parotid) glands that can lead to difficulties in chewing and swallowing; the disease is asymptomatic in 20 percent of cases. Adult males without immunity are particularly susceptible to a more severe forms of mumps.

Advice

Individuals in or planning to travel to Hawaii are advised to verify that all routine vaccinations are up to date and to take normal hygienic precautions.