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What is Mumps?Updated 3-7-24
  • Mumps is a contagious viral disease best known for causing puffy cheeks and a tender, swollen jaw (parotitis).
  • Mumps can cause serious long-term health problems. There is no treatment for mumps.
  • Mumps can be prevented with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) or measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV).
Mumps FAQ Document

Fact Sheet

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Mumps: Symptoms and Complications

Common symptoms for mumps include:

  • Swollen glands under the ears or jaw (parotitis)
  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Muscle aches
  • Tiredness
  • Loss of appetite

Mumps can cause several health complications, especially for adults, including:

  • swelling of the testicles (orchitis) in men who have reached puberty,
  • swelling of the ovaries or breast tissue (mastitis),
  • swelling of the brain (encephalitis),
  • swelling of the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord (meningitis),
  • deafness (temporary or permanent), and
  • temporary sterility or decrease fertility in men.
How does Mumps Spread?
  • Mumps spreads from person to person through direct contact with saliva or respiratory droplets from the mouth, nose, or throat. A person infected with mumps can spread the virus by:
    • Coughing, sneezing, or talking
    • Sharing items that may have saliva on them such as utensils or water bottles
    • Participating in close contact activities with others such as sports or kissing
  • The infected person can spread the disease a few days before their salivary glands begin to swell and up to five days after the swelling begins.

If you think you or someone in your family may have mumps because you or they have symptoms, have not been vaccinated against mumps, and/or have been traveling:

  • Stay home and call your doctor and let them know of your concerns.
  • Stay away from other individuals or large groups in places such as school, daycare, and waiting rooms, before speaking to your doctor.

If you think you have been exposed to someone with mumps:

  • Call your doctor immediately to let them know you may have been exposed to someone with mumps.
  • Your doctor may be able to determine if you have protection against mumps based on your vaccine record or previous lab results.
  • Your doctor may also make special arrangements to evaluate you to limit risk to other patients and staff.
  • Make sure to wear a facemask that covers your nose and mouth.
  • Stay away from places where there are large groups of people who are at higher risk of getting sick, such as schools, hospitals, or childcare. Do not return until your doctor says it is okay to return. This will help make sure that you do not spread mumps to others.
Information for the Public
Vaccine Information
  • Mumps vaccine is the best way to prevent getting mumps. One dose of a mumps-containing vaccine is 78% effective against mumps, and two doses is 88% effective. Since protection is not complete and can wane with time, even fully vaccinated individuals should get evaluated for mumps if they have symptoms.
  • There are two types of mumps-containing vaccines
    • Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine for persons aged 12 months and older.
    • Measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) for persons aged 12 months to 12 years.
  • Mumps vaccination is a requirement for children who enroll in childcare and school
    • The CDC recommends that children receive two doses of MMR:
      • First dose at 12 – 15 months of age, and their second dose at 4 – 6 years of age (prior to starting kindergarten).
        • Children can receive the second dose earlier as long as it is at least 28 days after the first dose.
      • Infants 6 – 11 months of age should get one dose of a mumps-containing vaccine prior to traveling internationally.
        • Infants who receive one dose of mumps-containing vaccine before 12 months should get two more doses during the timepoints recommended above.
      • Other vaccines can be given at the same time as the MMR or MMRV vaccine.
Vaccine Recommendations

Who SHOULD get the vaccine:

Who should NOT get the vaccine (if applicable):

  • Anyone allergic to the ingredients for the MMR or MMRV.
  • Anyone who is or thinks they might be pregnant.
  • People with severely weakened immune systems.
  • Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any other health conditions or precautions for vaccination.
Where to get the Vaccine

There are many places to get the mumps-containing vaccine. If you have insurance, talk to your doctor or check with your local pharmacy to see what vaccines are offered. Most health insurances cover the cost of all recommended vaccines for children and adults.

If you are uninsured or underinsured, there are programs available to help cover the cost of vaccines. Children who are 18 years of age or younger are eligible to receive vaccines at no cost through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program if they are:

  • Eligible for or are enrolled in Medi-Cal
  • American Indian or Alaskan Native
  • Uninsured (do not have health insurance)
  • Underinsured (private health insurance does not cover the full cost of vaccines)

Click to see if your child is eligible to receive VFC vaccines: English | Spanish

Uninsured or underinsured adults can access free or low cost vaccines at select clinics enrolled in the Vaccines for Adults (VFA) program. For more information on who is eligible, read VFA Eligibility Based on Insurance Status. You can use the following resources for more information on locating clinics:

You can also dial 2-1-1 for a list of free or low cost vaccine clinics. This includes Vaccines for Children (VFC) provider locations that serve Medi-Cal eligible children and uninsured or underinsured adults. Learn more about specific vaccine information for different age groups:

Keeping Record of Your Immunization Records

Are you not sure if you have been vaccinated against mumps or you can’t find your vaccine records?

If you need official copies of your vaccine records, or if you need to update your personal records:

Information for Providers
Clinical Presentation

Mumps cases continue to occur in the United States and can lead to serious complications. It is important to consider mumps when evaluating any vaccinated or unvaccinated patient who presents any of the traditional mumps symptoms.

  • Prodromal symptoms typically appear 16-18 days (with a range of 12 to 25 days) after exposure and begins with a low-grade fever, headache, myalgia, fatigue, and anorexia.
  • Prodromal symptoms are then most commonly followed by parotitis (or other salivary gland swelling) which lasts on average 5 days.
  • Salivary gland swelling, pain and tenderness occurs within 48 hours of prodrome onset.
  • Symptoms tend to decrease after 1 week and usually resolve after 10 days.
  • 40-50% of people who get mumps have very mild symptoms (like a cold) or no symptoms and may not know they have the disease.
  • Complications may include: orchitis, oophoritis, mastitis, or neurologic manifestations including meningitis, encephalitis, and deafness.
  • Post – exposure Prophylaxis: There is no post-exposure prophylaxis available for mumps.  However, vaccination after exposure with mumps-containing vaccines (MMR or MMRV) is not harmful and may possibly prevent subsequent disease if re-exposed.
  • Transmission: Contact with respiratory secretions or droplets, saliva or through fomites.
  • Incubation Period: 12-25 days.
  • Infectious Period: 2 days before parotitis (or other distinct symptom) onset through 5 days after.
Specimen Collection and Storage

Specimen Collection

  • Timing of specimen collection in relation to clinical presentation is important to yield reliable results.
  • Buccal swab for reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing: Collect specimen within 3-9 days of parotitis onset or clinical suspicion of mumps.
  • Serum for Serology Antibody IgM/IgG testing: Supplemental to RT-PCR testing, the optimal time for specimen collection is 4 or more days after symptom onset.

Specimen Storage

  • Refrigerate serum (4°C) within 8 hours of collection.
  • Do NOT store serum samples at room temperature (15-25°C) longer than 8 hours after collection.
  • Freeze specimens (-20°C or lower) that are stored for more than 48 hours. Serum specimens can be stored frozen (-20°C or lower) for up to 8 weeks.

If a commercial lab cannot perform testing, please call the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Vaccine-Preventable Disease Control Program at 213-351-7800 for assistance.

Vaccine Recommendations

CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that persons who do not have presumptive evidence of immunity should get vaccinated. Vaccination is the best way to prevent mumps and complications from disease. Below you will find the CDC recommendations for MMR or MMRV vaccination in children and adults.

MMR and MMRV Vaccine Recommendations for Children and Adolescents

Vaccine Type Vaccine Brand & Dosage 1st Dose 2nd Dose Min. Interval between doses Preferred Route Preferred Injection Site
MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella)   PRIORIX (GlaxoSmithKline) and M-M-R II (Merck) (0.5 mL) 12-15 months of age   4-6 years of age  28 days after the first dose

*PRIORIX: administered by the subcutaneous route only

*M-M-R II: administered by the subcutaneous (SQ) or intramuscular (IM) route 		  *Preferred injection site in small children is the anterolateral aspect of the thigh
MMRV (Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella)  ProQuad (0.5 mL)   12 -15 months of age  4 -6 years of age 3 months after first dose  *ProQuad may be administered by the subcutaneous or intramuscular route  *The posterior triceps aspect of the upper arm is the preferred site for older children and adolescents 

* MMR (M-M-R II and PRIORIX) are fully interchangeable for all indications for which MMR vaccination is recommended.
* MMRV (ProQuad) vaccine is only licensed for use in children 12 months through 12 years of age.
* MMRV (ProQuad) may be given at the same time as other vaccines.

MMR Vaccine Recommendation for Adults

Adults who do not have presumptive evidence of immunity should get at least one dose of MMR vaccine. Certain adults may need 2 doses. A third dose of a mumps virus–containing vaccine* is recommended for persons previously vaccinated with 2 doses who are identified by public health authorities as being part of a group or population at increased risk for acquiring mumps because of an outbreak.

  • Adults who are going to be in a setting that poses a high risk for mumps transmission should make sure they have had two doses separated by at least 28 days.
  • The preferred injection site for adults is the posterior triceps aspect of the upper arm.

*Pregnancy is a contraindication to vaccination with live virus vaccines, including MMR and vaccines. ACIP recommends that pregnancy be avoided for 1 month following receipt of MMR vaccine.

Storage and Handling
Reporting

Please contact the LAC DPH Vaccine-Preventable Disease Control Program to report a case, obtain any other technical assistance with specimen collection or completion of forms for measles, mumps, or any other vaccine-preventable disease.

Suspected mumps cases are to be reported within 7 calendar days from identification, by telephone, electronic transmission (email or digital fax), or mail (IAW Title 17, California Code of Regulations (CCR), Section 2500).

  • Weekdays Telephone: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm: Call 213-351-7800
  • After Hours: Call 213-974-1234
  • Email: vpdc@ph.lacounty.gov
  • Fax number: 213-351-2782

Click here for more information on reporting a Vaccine Adverse Event.



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    • Public Health has made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translation. However, no computerized translation is perfect and is not intended to replace traditional translation methods. If questions arise concerning the accuracy of the information, please refer to the English edition of the website, which is the official version.

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