Arkansas mumps outbreak cases surpass 2,800

On Feb. 16, the Arkansas Department of Health reported 2,814 cases of mumps associated with an outbreak that began in August 2016. The updated case count marks a 108 case uptick since Feb. 1.

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There are currently 30 workplaces, 34 schools across 10 school districts and two private schools affected by the viral outbreak.

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The mumps are best known for painful, swollen salivary glands that cause puffy cheeks and swollen jaw. It is a highly communicable disease transmitted by person-to-person contact and is typically accompanied by initial symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness and loss of appetite.

In 2016, the number of mumps cases across the nation hit a 10-year high.

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