Cases of mumps continue to mount in the ongoing outbreak in Arkansas. On Tuesday, the Arkansas Department of Health upped the count to 1,270, marking a 185 -case increase since Nov. 8. Throughout the outbreak, cases have occurred almost exclusively in the northwest corner of the state, but recent reports suggest the mumps may have spread to central Arkansas.
According to KTHV, four students from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway are suspected of having the mumps.
The mumps are best known for painful, swollen salivary glands that cause puffy cheeks and swollen jaw. It is a highly communicable disease transmitted by person-to-person contact and is typically accompanied by initial symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness and loss of appetite.
The statewide count includes both laboratory confirmed cases and cases currently under investigation. The outbreak has affected more than 30 schools and 21 workplaces.
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