Washington state has reported 278 confirmed cases of the mumps across five counties.
A spokesperson from the Washington State Department of Health recommended the MMR vaccine for protection and staying at home to reduce the spread of infection, CNN reported. Avoiding contact with those who have the disease is also recommended.
Mumps is a virus typically spread through close personal contact and can cause an inflammation of the facial cheeks and jaw. If left untreated in adults, the virus can cause deafness, inflammation of the brain, and encephalitis, which can lead to death.
Posted On January 26, 2017
