Washington state health officials increased the state's ongoing mumps outbreak case count to 503 on Wednesday.
The new count marks a 34-case increase since the Washington State Health Department's Feb. 15 update and includes both confirmed and probable infections. The outbreak has sickened individuals across 11 counties, with the bulk of infections occurring in King County and Spokane County.
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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.
To learn more about the mumps, click here.
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