Spike In Mumps Cases Reported By MD Health Officials

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The Maryland Department of Health on Thursday confirmed that the number of mumps cases in the state is on the rise.

As of Feb. 19, health officials said there have been 26 cases reported in 2026, including 19 confirmed and seven probable cases.

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According to officials, the recent cases have been occurring primarily in adults in the Baltimore metropolitan area, although mumps cases can occur in any age group and throughout the state. The Maryland Department of Health is coordinating with local agencies to investigate whether there may be a link between the cases, but to date, none have been identified.

Despite the increase, the overall risk to the public is considered low given Maryland's high vaccination rate against the disease, officials said.

"The most effective prevention against a mumps infection is to get the measles, mumps and rubella — or MMR — vaccine, a two-dose series that is routinely recommended at 12–15 months of age for the first dose and the second dose at 4 to 6 years old," said Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services Dr. Meg Sullivan. "Talk with your health care provider about whether you and your family are up to date with the MMR vaccine. It is the most effective way to protect against all three viruses."

Mumps is a viral infection that can spread through direct contact with saliva or respiratory droplets. Mumps is not considered to be as contagious as measles, and symptoms appear about 2 to 4 weeks after exposure.

The most common symptom of mumps is parotitis, a painful swelling of glands on one or both sides of the face that may be tender or painful, along with fever. While this swelling is a characteristic feature of mumps infection, other commonly circulating respiratory pathogens, including influenza, can also cause parotitis.

Parotitis from mumps may be preceded by low-grade fever, loss of appetite, malaise, and respiratory symptoms, and usually lasts three to seven days.

There is no specific medicine to treat mumps aside from fever and pain relief. Most patients experience a full recovery, though serious complications can occur and could require immediate medical attention, including inflammation of the testicles, ovaries or breasts, pancreatitis, hearing loss, meningitis, and encephalitis. Some of these complications are more common in adults.

If someone develops symptoms of mumps, they should contact their health care provider or local health department immediately to be evaluated and, if needed, tested for mumps or other infections.

For more information, see the MDH fact sheet on mumps.