Mumps
Mumps Disease Fact Sheet
(PDF 86 KB)
 Mumps is an acute viral illness caused by a Rubulavirus. The
virus causes swelling in one or more salivary glands, usually the
parotid glands.
Mumps virus is only found in humans.
The occurrence of the
disease has decreased significantly since a vaccine against it was
licensed in 1967.
This illness is most likely to occur in children between
the ages of 5 and 14 years; however, there has been an increasing trend
in the number of U.S. cases in adults aged 40 years and older. The greatest risk of infection occurs among older
children.
Mumps can occur at any time of the year; however,
incidence peaks in late winter through spring.
The mumps vaccine is usually given as MMR, in
combination with measles and rubella. The vaccine is a series of two
injections usually started after age 1.
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Case of Mumps Confirmed in Colorado
April 2006, Colorado — The state of Iowa has
been experiencing a large outbreak of mumps that began in December 2005.
The majority of cases are occurring among persons 18-25 years of age,
many of whom are vaccinated. More
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