ERIE COUNTY, OHIO, Ohio — The Erie County Health Depart is spreading mumps awareness after an Erie County student was diagnosed with the disease.
Mumps is a contagious viral disease characterized by fever, headache, sand swelling of the salivary glads. Signs of illness typically begin 16-18 days after being exposed to the virus.
The best way to prevent the mumps is to get the MMR vaccine, according to the health department. The MMR vaccine services measles, mumps and rubella.
The vaccine was introduced in 1967 and over the course of 50 years, the number of cases has decreased immensely, but is still highly contagious among vaccinated individuals.
All Ohio children attending school are required to receive two doses of the vaccine.
