United States: Mumps outbreak continues in Hawaii /update 3

Event

A mumps outbreak continues in Hawaii, the worst to hit the state in a decade. As of January 4, a total of 770 cases had been reported since the beginning of 2017. The disease has been confirmed on the islands of Oahu (610 cases) Hawaii (108), Kauai (49), and Maui (3).

Even individuals vaccinated against the disease - both children and adults - have been affected, leading health officials to recommend booster shots for certain groups: notably people born after 1956 who live, work, or attend school in crowded conditions.

Context

According to Hawaiian law, individuals diagnosed with mumps are legally prohibited from attending school, working, or traveling for nine days following the onset of parotitis (inflammation of the salivary glands).

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 their mumps vaccination and any necessary booster shots are up to date and to take hygienic precautions.