Mumps Epidemic

The worst epidemic of Mumps in twenty years is being reported today in Iowa. They started vaccinating for the Mumps (MMR) in 1967. Few cases are reported yearly, but Iowa is now on the CDC radar. They say the strain could have been brought over, from Great Britain, by a college student, and spread from there.

For us old timers, before the vaccine available in 1967, you had the opportunity to go through the Mumps. I remember I was so sick. But, what I remember most was my sisters look like "Cabbage Patch Doll's", with their cheeks all swelled up.

Mumps is a viral infection of the salivary glands. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches and swelling of the glands close to the jaw. It can cause serious complications, including meningitis, damage to the testicles and deafness.

Funny.....how this infection attacks men so discriminately...lol!