Health Dept. Takes No Chances As Mumps Spreads
 

With mumps cases spreading across the Midwest, health officials are trying to get the word out to high-risk groups: Get vaccinated.

The viral disease spreads easily, especially among college students.

"College kids live together in close quarters. It's an efficient way of spreading this disease, but, yes, it is a group that would be at high risk for this," said Dr. Larry Holditch, of the Cincinnati Health Department.

The symptoms include swelling of the glands under the jaw, fever, headache and fatigue.

"Around here, we've seen a few cases in Cincinnati -- people having swelling and fever -- but so far, none have turned out to be the mumps," Holditch said.

Health officials aren't taking any chances, given that 1,100 people have been infected in Iowa alone.

In one case, an entire school was checked out, though the health department wouldn't specific which school it was.

"We did go into the school and with school nurses made sure everyone was up to date on their shots and MMR," Holditch said.