Transmission of the mumps associated with an outbreak in Arkansas has slowed significantly, according to the most recent update from the Arkansas Department of Health.
As of March 15, state health officials have recorded 2,898 mumps cases associated with an outbreak that began in August 2016. The outbreak is now affecting six counties. At the peak of the outbreak in 2016, cities and school districts across more than 30 counties had active mumps cases, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
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"We were real worried, when we started to see it spread out geographically, that it would begin to take hold somewhere," said Dirk Haselow, MD, PhD, state epidemiologist, according to the Democrat-Gazette. Dr. Haselow added that such an occurrence hasn't happened.
Mumps is a contagious disease caused by a virus. Initial symptoms — which normally persist for several days — include a fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness and loss of appetite and may be followed by swollen salivary glands.
To learn more about the mumps, click here.
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