Affected counties include King, Pierce, Snohomish, Spokane and Yakima. State health officials are urging residents to get vaccinated against the virus.
“The best protection against mumps is the [mumps, measles, rubella] vaccine,” said Dave Johnson, a spokesman for the health department, according to CNN. “We are telling folks if you’re sick or you think you have mumps, stay home.”
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.
Recently, a renascent outbreak of the mumps has infected more than 2,500 people in Arkansas.
More articles on infection control:
Pfizer says C. diff vaccine trial posts positive results
VA stewardship program reduces antibiotic use, C. diff infections, study shows
Infections in early pregnancy hinder fetal brain development, study suggests
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