Have You Been Vaccinated against Mumps?

There have been over 2,200 people exposed to a mumps outbreak in at least two detention facilities Pine Prairie, Louisiana, and Aurora, Colorado. Immigration and Customs Officials say they will begin a 25-day quarantine.

Mumps is a contagious viral disease that's easily preventable by a vaccine. It is best known for the puffy cheeks and swollen jaw, fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite.

Since the U.S. mumps vaccination program began in the late 1960s, mumps infections have dropped off by 99 percent. The once-common childhood infection is now very rare. If you haven't received your mumps vaccination contact the local health dept or your doctor to set up an appointment to get your vaccination.

Mumps is an extremely contagious disease and spreads through saliva or mucus.

An infected person can spread the virus through coughing, sneezing or even talking.