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Mumps Information for the Public

Mumps Information for the Public

Mumps is a disease that that affects the salivary glands. Salivary glands produce most of the saliva (spit) in the mouth. They are located in the head and neck.

Mumps can cause serious symptoms including swelling of the brain.

  • Mumps is very contagious.  It spreads through direct contact with saliva or droplets from the mouth, nose, or throat.

    Mumps virus spreads through:

    • Coughing, sneezing, or talking.
    • Sharing items that have saliva on them, such as water bottles or cups.
    • Close-contact activities with others, such as playing sports, dancing, or kissing.

    An infected person can spread mumps virus to others two days before symptoms appear and as long as five days after their glands start to swell.

    After a person is exposed to the virus, mumps can take two to three weeks for symptoms to first appear.  

    Outbreaks happen most commonly at college campuses, summer camps, and schools.

    About Mumps (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

     

  • The vaccine for mumps is part of the MMR vaccine, a combination vaccine that protects against measles, mumps, and rubella.

    The routine schedule for vaccination is:

    • First dose between 12 and 15 months of age.
    • Second dose between the ages of 4 and 6.

    Other ways to prevent mumps are:

    • Excluding the person with mumps from childcare, preschool, school, and work for 5 days after the onset of swelling.

    Note: People born before 1957 were likely exposed to the virus and are likely immune to mumps and do not require vaccination.

    Mumps Vaccination (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

  • Symptoms of mumps usually begin 2 to 3 weeks after first exposure to the virus. The time can range from 7 to 25 days.

    Around one-third of people infected with mumps will have no symptoms or mild symptoms.

    Mild mumps symptoms include:

    • Fever.
    • Headache.
    • Muscle aches or pain.
    • Loss of appetite.
    • Fatigue or tiredness.
    • Testicle pain and tenderness.

    Mumps often causes swelling of one or both of the parotid salivary glands in the cheek and jaw area; this is called parotitis. It usually lasts about 5 days.

    Moderate or severe mumps symptoms can also include:

    • High fever.
    • Stiff neck.
    • Confusion.
    • Stomach pain.
    • Vomiting.
    • Seizures.
    • Inflammation of the testicles (orchitis).
    • Inflammation of the ovaries (oophoritis).

    Complications happen most often in adults and may include:

    • Meningitis or Encephalitis: Swelling or inflammation of the membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord.
      • Can lead to fevers, stiff neck, seizures, stroke, or death.
    • Parotitis: Inflammation and swelling of one or both parotid glands in the cheek and jaw area.
    • Orchitis: Inflammation of the testicles (orchitis).
      • Occurs in 20% of adult males.
      • Can cause a decrease in fertility.
    • Mastitis: Inflammation of breast tissue.
    • Oophoritis: Inflammation and swelling of the ovaries.
      • Occurs in around 5% of adult females. 
      • Does not affect fertility.
    • Pancreatitis: Swelling and damage to the pancreas.
      • Can lead to stomach pain or tenderness, vomiting, and fever.
    • Deafness: Mumps can cause loss of hearing suddenly or over time.
      • Hearing usually gets better after the illness.
    • Miscarriage: Mumps may increase the risk of pregnancy loss during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
     About Mumps (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

  • As of July 5, 2024, there have been 37 cases of mumps in the U.S. during 2024, including 1 in Michigan.

    Before vaccination, mumps was one of the most common causes of aseptic meningitis and hearing loss among children and hospitalization among military members.

    Some people's bodies don't respond to the mumps vaccine as strongly as others. These people may still be infected with mumps. Vaccinating more people helps keeps these people safer.

    Mumps outbreaks can occur in places where people are in close contact such as universities, schools, and correctional facilities (jails and prisons).

  • Mumps is a notifiable disease. A notifiable disease is one that doctors must report to state or local public health officials. 

    Public health officials track some diseases because they can spread easily, are serious, or happen often. 

  • Mumps Vaccination
    Mumps Vaccination (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

    Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR): The Diseases & the Vaccines (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) 

    Mumps: More than Just Swollen Glands (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

    How Vaccines Work
    Video: How Do Vaccines Work? (American Academy of Pediatrics)
        Spanish version: ¿Cómo funcionan las vacunas? (American Academy of Pediatrics)

  • If you have been immunized in the State of Michigan, you may be able to download your immunization record from the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR).

    Visit the Michigan Immunization Portal to learn more or contact your healthcare provider.