The Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed a case of mumps in an individual on Hawaiʻi Island. The case is community-acquired and not travel-related, suggesting that mumps may currently be circulating on the island.
The individual attended an event at Harold H. Higashihara Park in Kailua-Kona on Thursday, Sept. 25, between 4:30 and 6 p.m.
People who were at the event should monitor themselves for symptoms until Oct. 20, 2025 (25 days after exposure). Anyone who develops symptoms should isolate for five days after symptom onset.
DOH advises anyone who attended this event to contact the department for guidance. Individuals who develop symptoms should isolate immediately and contact their healthcare provider.
Mumps is a contagious viral illness that spreads through coughing, sneezing, talking, or sharing items such as cups or eating utensils. Symptoms typically appear 12 to 25 days after exposure.
Symptoms of mumps include:
- Swollen, painful salivary glands (puffy cheeks or a tender jaw)
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Tiredness
- Loss of appetite
There is no specific treatment for mumps. Care focuses on rest, fluids, and fever control. While most people who fall ill with mumps recover fully, it can cause serious illness in some, including inflammation of the testicles or ovaries, pancreatitis, inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) or tissue covering the brain or spinal cord (meningitis), and loss of hearing.
DOH is working with the case’s family, healthcare providers, and Hawaiʻi County officials to identify and notify close contacts.
Hawaiʻi previously experienced a significant mumps outbreak from March 2017 through October 2018, with 1,009 confirmed cases statewide. Most cases were on Oʻahu, but Hawaiʻi, Kauaʻi, and Maui counties also had confirmed cases.
For more information about mumps and vaccination, visit the DOH Disease Outbreak Control Division website.
