Maui resident comes down with a case of mumps

Health Department advises precautions

A Maui resident who reportedly traveled to Oahu has come down with a case of mumps, the state Department of Health reported Tuesday.

Oahu has continued to have cases of mumps infections since an outbreak started more than a year ago, the department said. However, the mumps case identified on Maui was in November.

Statewide, the Health Department has confirmed 985 mumps cases since the outbreak started March 1, 2017.

“The mumps virus continues to circulate in our communities,” said state epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park. “While the number of new cases we have identified in recent weeks has slowed, this outbreak is not over. The largest number of cases are on Oahu, and because of the ease of interisland travel, new cases may continue to emerge on other islands.”

As summer approaches and families make travel plans, the Health Department recommends the following mumps prevention measures:

≤ Get vaccinated. The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine provides the best protection against mumps. An outbreak dose of the vaccine is recommended for everyone born in or after 1957, but especially people 10 to 45 years old, and those who live, work or socialize in crowded or close contact conditions for long periods.

≤ Stay home when sick. People suspected or diagnosed with mumps should not travel or go to school or work for nine days after the swelling of the salivary glands.

≤ Cover coughs and sneezes, and wash hands frequently to limit the spread of the virus.

≤ Avoid sharing food and drinks.

The mumps vaccine is available at pharmacies. To locate one, visit health.hawaii.gov/ do cd/ vaccines immunizations/ vaccine-locators/. It’s recommended that people call pharmacies before visiting to check on vaccine availability.

More information is available at health.hawaii.gov/docd/advisories/mumps/.