It kind of sounds like the plot of a scary movie: Thousands of cheerleaders from 39 states and nine countries were exposed to the mumps at the National Cheerleaders Association All-Star National Championship in late February, reports ABC News.
The mumps used to be pretty close to extinct in the U.S., thanks to a vaccine that was introduced back in 1963. But recently, there's been a resurgence of the disease.
While there were only 229 cases of the mumps in the U.S. in 2012, there were 6,366 reported cases in 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This can be at least partially attributed to the (totally bogus) anti-vaccination movement in the U.S.
So What Are The Mumps?
“Mumps is a virus that causes swelling of the salivary glands,” says Emily Landon, M.D., assistant professor of medicine at the University of Chicago. These glands are located where your ear and jaw meet, giving those with the disease chipmunk cheeks, along with a fever. “It’s really uncomfortable,” she says.
However, in men it also causes swelling of the testicles, which can lead to infertility. Women can experience swelling of their ovaries, but that’s less likely.
If you’re pregnant, contracting mumps can slightly increase your risk of miscarriage, though it hasn’t been linked to birth defects, notes Landon. Because of the male fertility concerns, mumps is included in the MMR vaccine (which covers measles, mumps, and rubella). Children receive this vaccine at 12 months and then again at 4 to 6 years old.
“The problem is that immunity to mumps isn’t as good as measles,” says Landon. The mumps component of the MMR vaccine is about 88 percent effective when you’ve gotten the recommended two doses, according to the CDC.
Plus, mumps doesn’t really circulate in the community anymore, and without exposure to the disease, your immune system isn't ready for it when it hits. As you age, your immune system also starts to “forget,” says Landon, so some adults who were vaccinated as children aren’t fully protected.
The upshot is that most people who contract mumps recover quickly in a few weeks, says Landon. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen, rest, and liquids are the go-to treatments.
How Can I Prevent The Mumps?
As Landon points out, people become ill with mumps about two weeks after being exposed to the virus. It’s also possible to have mumps without the symptoms. (Luckily, no new cases have been reported after the National Cheerleaders Association All-Star National Championship, per ABC News—but there's still time for the disease to surface.)
Mumps is spread through saliva and droplets. Think of it like the flu: you have to be close to someone, touch the same surface, or they’d have to cough or sneeze on or near you for you to have a chance of contracting it. As the CDC points out, most outbreaks happen when people have “prolonged, close contact” with someone who has it.
Take the same flu-preventing measures as you’re already (hopefully) doing. Wash your hands with soap and water (or use hand sanitizer in a pinch). Don’t touch your face. If someone near you is coughing, lean away from them. (The more distance you can put between yourself and someone who looks ill—with anything—the better, says Landon.)
And, if you’re a parent, get the MMR vaccine for your child without hesitation. “There is unfounded controversy over the MMR vaccine. It’s incredibly effective in preventing disease,” she says.