Communicating About Mumps

As of February 27, 2026, there have been 34 confirmed cases of mumps in the United States this year. This includes 19 confirmed and seven probable cases in Maryland.

The best way to prevent mumps is to receive the mumps vaccine. Since the mumps vaccination program started, there has been a more than 99% decrease in mumps cases in the United States — from roughly 150,000 cases in 1968 to about 348 cases in 2025.

Use the following talking points to communicate effectively about mumps with your community members.

Talking Points

What is mumps, and what are its symptoms?

Mumps is a contagious illness caused by a virus. It primarily affects the salivary glands and leads to swelling along the jawline. The initial symptoms of mumps are often mild, and many people don’t know they are infected. Mild mumps symptoms may include:

Fever
Headache
Muscle aches
Fatigue
Loss of appetite

A few days later, painful swelling of your salivary glands (between your ears and jawline) may occur. These “chipmunk cheeks” are a sign of mumps and occur in more than 70% of cases.

After a person is exposed to the virus, the time from infection to illness can range from seven to 25 days. It is likely that mumps is contagious before swelling occurs and up to 5 days after the swelling begins.

In rare cases, mumps can lead to serious complications, including hearing loss, infertility, swelling in the brain, and death.

How does mumps spread?

The virus travels through airborne droplets and can spread when a person coughs, sneezes, or talks. It can also spread through close contact, like sharing utensils or touching contaminated surfaces.

Who should get the mumps vaccine?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children receive 2 doses of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) or measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine. Routine timing for these vaccines is at the following ages:

Dose 1: 12 – 15 months
Dose 2: 4 – 6 years

Adults who did not receive the vaccine as a child can still receive the MMR or MMRV vaccine as an adult. The minimum timing between doses one and two is 28 days for MMR and 90 days for MMRV. Adults who received the vaccination as a child and are concerned about decreasing immunity, or who may be traveling to a location with a mumps outbreak, can test their immunity by scheduling a titer test with a healthcare professional.

How is mumps treated?

Getting a mumps vaccine is the best way to prevent the disease. There is no specific treatment for mumps, but symptoms typically resolve on their own within a couple of weeks. The following steps can help manage symptoms:

Drink plenty of fluids
Avoid acidic foods that make your mouth water
Place ice or heat packs on swollen glands
Take non-aspirin medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen

Does mumps affect children differently than adults?

Yes. While mumps most commonly affects children between the ages of 2 and 12 who haven’t received the mumps vaccine, severe complications from mumps are more likely to affect adults.