DOH: Statewide mumps outbreak over

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The state Department of Health announced Tuesday that a statewide outbreak of mumps is over.

According to the DOH, the outbreak began in March 2017 with two clusters of cases involving nine individuals on Oahu before climbing to 900 cases within a year.

In total, 1,009 people with mumps were identified during the outbreak.

“We are able to declare the outbreak over because there have been no new cases confirmed in the last 50 days, which totals two maximum incubation periods for the illness,” said state epidemiologist Sarah Park in a DOH news release. “To curb the number of people getting sick, we recommended an additional (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine dose especially for adolescents and adults. We appreciate the public and our health-care providers heeding this recommendation and for their vigilance.”

From March 1, 2017, until Oct. 4 this year, there were 134 cases identified in Hawaii County, as well as 819 in the City and County of Honolulu, 49 in Kauai County and seven in Maui County, according to the DOH.