Officials say the number of patients in the Seattle area believed to have mumps has risen to 22.
Public Health Seattle & King County said Friday that five cases of mumps have been confirmed, 17 are probable cases and four other cases are under investigation.
Officials say 15 of the cases involve children from 5 to 17 and all of the children diagnosed were vaccinated against the mumps. Dr. Jeff Duchin of the health department says some people don’t respond to the vaccine so outbreaks can still occur, but if unvaccinated, many more people would become ill.
Officials say anyone with symptoms should stay away from others and not attend school until five days after their glands swell.
Officials say mumps used to be a major cause of meningitis and inflammation of the brain, testes or ovaries.
Via KXLY