TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Cases of the mumps here in Florida are spiking.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that trend follows a national pattern for the virus, which has been on the rise since 2016.
The Florida Department of Health shows more mumps cases this year than the previous 5 years combined.
An advisory from the department, dated December 11, 2017, reports mumps occurring in all age groups. Currently most of the infections are seen in south Florida counties, but doctors recommend taking precautions.
"Preventive measures such as make sure to cover yourself when you do sneeze, thorough hand-washing as much as you can with soap and water preferably," said Dr. Jessica Castaneira with the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. "Alcohol based hand gel if you don't have accessible water and soap."
Mumps can be spread through coughs, sneezes, or even talking to an infected person. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches and swollen salivary glands.
Doctors suggest the measles, mumps, rubella (mmr) vaccine for prevention.
