The mumps continue their recent resurgence with a flare-up in North Dakota. According to a statement made Friday by the North Dakota Department of Health, the organization has received 14 reports of mumps cases since Feb. 24. The state typically sees less than three mumps cases per year.
The department is urging residents to get vaccinated. Only two of the state's reported mumps cases were in individuals who had been properly vaccinated.
"It is not surprising to see mumps cases in vaccinated individuals," said Molly Howell, immunization program manager for the NDDH. "The mumps component of the MMR [measles, mumps and rubella] vaccine is about 88 percent effective, according to the [CDC]. MMR vaccine is the only tool that we have available to prevent mumps; 88 percent is a lot better than not being vaccinated at all."
Cases of the mumps have recently cropped up at several university campuses this year, including University of North Carolina in Charlotte, Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., Boston University and University of San Diego.
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