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Florida, Collier County seeing an increase in mumps cases

Posted at 11:01 PM, Dec 14, 2017
and last updated 2017-12-15 07:15:07-05

Florida health officials reported 56 cases of mumps statewide since the beginning of 2017.

Broward, Collier, Duval, Hillsborough and Palm Beach Counties reported the most cases during that time span.

"They typically start with a low grade fever, head ache, muscle aches, just not feeling well," said Terry Harder, an epidemiologist with the Collier County Health Department.

A child should be vaccinated twice between 12 and 15 months of age and again between 4 and 6 years old.

"Vaccines is the best way to prevent mumps, but no vaccine is 100 percent effective," said Harder.

Some parents are skeptical over whether vaccines actually work.

"I'm kind of torn on that, whether you should, but both my kids are vaccinated," said parent Shawn Reynolds.

Reynolds says he's more concerned about his son getting sick from other people.

"Even grabbing a shopping cart, maybe that kid hasn't been vaccinated, and they may be sick and wiping their nose."

The Collier County Health Department offers vaccines.

Adults born before 1957 don't need a mumps vaccination because they likely had the virus before a vaccination was created.