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Northeast Florida health officials respond to mumps cases, encourage vaccination

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health has confirmed one case of mumps in Duval County and two suspected cases in St. Johns County.

We don’t hear about mumps often, but those who get it certainly feel it.

“Sort of like a viral infection, you can get a fever, headache. You will have a swelling of the salivary gland, the gland up here that produces saliva. It can be painful,” Dr. Mobeen Rathore, chief of infectious diseases and immunology at Wolfson Children’s Hospital, said.

For men, mumps can also cause inflammation of the testes, which can lead to impotence. Mumps is spread through droplets, which can be passed from one person to another through talking, coughing, sneezing, as well as by sharing items such as cups or eating utensils with others.

“I think at the end of the day, for the greater good, everybody should be vaccinated, because we’re only as strong as our weakest link. If everybody is vaccinated, it will help us a lot. Then, the one person that isn’t could possibly contract something,” parent Daniel Heser said.

Rathore agrees.

“One of the best things in medicine is immunization. It’s safe, it’s effective and I think the important thing to remember is: Children can get it free through either insurance or a children’s program,” he said.

The Department of Health has not identified the person with the confirmed case of mumps in Duval County or the two people with suspected cases in St. Johns County, but we do know they are all young adults.

Heser isn’t taking any chances and said he knows the risks of not vaccinating.

“It causes it to spread a lot quicker and who knows what could happen?” he said.

The Department of Health is suggesting that everyone, regardless of age, get vaccinated for measles, mumps and rubella, if they haven’t done so already.