Mumps cases eclipse 4,000 in the US

Two weeks ago on this website we reported that the United States is seeing the most mumps cases in a decade.

The number continues to rise nationally as the latest data shows that 4,258 mumps cases have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through Dec. 3.

In 2006, 6,500 cases were reported, the most since the turn of the century.

Arkansas is by far the hardest hit state with 1,898 suspected and lab confirmed cases through Tuesday.

According to Dr Dirk Haselow, State Epidemiologist and Medical Director for Outbreak Response at the Arkansas Department of Health in an interview Sunday on the Outbreak News This Week Radio Show in the Tampa Bay area, the Arkansas mumps outbreak is the second largest statewide outbreak in the United States in the past fifteen years and may end up being the largest since the turn of the century as he sees no slowing of the outbreak.

In addition to Arkansas, other states hit hard with mumps this year include Iowa (657), Illinois (315), Oklahoma (298), Massachusetts (243) and Indiana (233).

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