Health Topics

Mumps

Mumps is a contagious disease caused by a virus. Mumps usually occurs in children between the ages of five and fifteen, but is more likely to cause serious problems in adults. There is no cure for mumps, but it can be prevented with vaccination.

Information on the disease and its prevention
(forwarded to CDC web site)

Vaccination Information
There is a vaccine to prevent mumps, the MMR vaccine prevents measles and rubella as well as mumps. The vaccine should be given to children between 12-15 months old. Older children and adults who have not been immunized and who have never had mumps should also be vaccinated. Children’s vaccinations should follow the complete vaccination schedule.

Two doses of MMR vaccine is routinely recommended for children. The first dose is given at 12-15 months and the second dose at 4-6 years of age.

Information for Health Care Providers

• Multi-state Mumps Outbreak CDC Health Advisory April 14, 2006
• Mumps Outbreak 2006 April 13, 2006
• Mumps: Vaccine Preventable Diseases Surveillance Manual 3rd Ed, 2002, CDC

Reported Cases of Mumps in RI