State health officials monitoring for mumps

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- State health officials say they're working to prevent an outbreak of mumps in Oklahoma.<br/><br/>A statewide outbreak of mumps in Iowa is spreading to other states, including

Monday, April 10th 2006, 2:23 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- State health officials say they're working to prevent an outbreak of mumps in Oklahoma.

A statewide outbreak of mumps in Iowa is spreading to other states, including Missouri. But Oklahoma health officials say no cases related to the Iowa outbreak have been found in Oklahoma.

Health officials are encouraging children and adults up to 30 years old who haven't received the recommended two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to get the vaccine.

More than 360 cases of mumps have been reported in Iowa since January and 85 percent of those cases have come since March. Most of those infected are between 18- and 30-years-old.

Mumps is caused by a virus that can result in swelling with tenderness of the glands in the cheek and jaw area along with fever. Other symptoms include headache, general aches and muscle pains.

Anyone with mumps should not attend school or work for at least five days after symptoms start.