The Hawaiʻi Department of Health reported a confirmed mumps case on Hawaiʻi Island, suggesting possible local transmission. People who attended an event at Harold H. Higashihara Park in Kailua-Kona on September 25 between 4:30 and 6 p.m. are advised to monitor for symptoms until October 20 and seek medical care if needed, according to the Hawaiʻi Department of Health.
Mumps spreads easily through respiratory droplets or shared items and can cause swollen salivary glands, fever, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches. Severe complications may include meningitis, hearing loss, or inflammation of reproductive organs, posing higher risks to infants, pregnant individuals, and those with weakened immune systems, as mentioned by the Hawaiʻi Department of Health.
“While mumps is preventable with vaccination, even one case is concerning because of how easily the virus spreads,” State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble said. The Hawaiʻi Department of Health said children should get two measles, mumps, rubella doses by age 6, and adults at higher risk may need additional doses. The Hawaiʻi Department of Health is working with the case’s family and healthcare providers to notify close contacts and directs the public to its Disease Outbreak Control Division website for more information.
