Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Symptoms and Spread of Mumps
• Fever, headache, muscle aches, and loss of appetite
• Spread through saliva and mucus
III. Complications and treatment of Mumps
IV. Recent Outbreaks of Mumps
• Outbreaks reported on university campuses in Iowa and Illinois
• State-wide vaccination programs implemented to reduce impact
V. Conclusion
As per The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the cases of mumps have hit a 10-year high in the December of 2016 with over 5000 cases being reported. The measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine can prevent most 
of all, but not all variants. Mumps is spread through saliva and mucus and the symptoms include fever, headache, muscle acts, fatigue and loss of appetite.
Usually, the disease is characterized by a high fever and swelling of salivary glands. Also, the condition is painful. Complications resulting from Mumps are rare, however, there are cases Mumps affecting parotid glands. The inflammation of the brain and reproductive organs have been witnessed in the earlier cases but rarely.
Inflammation of testicles due to mumps is known as Orchitis. Also, females infected with the virus experience swelling of ovaries. Physicians usually prescribe painkillers for these conditions. Antibiotics are of no use as it is a viral illness.
Mumps impact on the brain is also rare, but it can lead to meningitis. If left untreated, it can be fatal. Meningitis is the swelling of membranes around spinal cord and brain. Another condition, Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain can also result from mumps infection.
Of 10k cases, five people experience permanent hearing impairment as result of mumps. This occurs primarily due to the infection of the cochlea, one of the structures in the inner ear. Inflammation of Pancreas can also occur due to Mumps, which nothing but swelling of the pancreas. The condition is temporary and the symptoms include pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Last year, Mumps were reported across different university campuses. The largest outbreaks were from Iowa and Illinois involving hundreds of university students. Both states later witnessed state-wide vaccination program to lessen the impact.