The Hawaii Department of Health on July 20 increased its tally of mumps cases for the year to 172, marking an 18-case increase since July 13.
Health officials confirmed Mumps infections in both unvaccinated and vaccinated adults and children. Individuals who have been exposed to the mumps and not vaccinated should not attend school, work or travel from day 12 through day 25 after exposure, according to health officials.
"The important thing for people to remember is to keep their germs to themselves," said Ronald Balajadia, the chief of the immunization branch of the DOH's disease outbreak control division. "We encourage the public to stay home when sick, cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing, wash their hands frequently and make sure they are fully vaccinated."
Mumps can cause painful, swollen salivary glands. It is a highly communicable virus contracted through person-to-person contact. Two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine are 88 percent effective at preventing mumps, according to the CDC.
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