The first case of mumps in Oakland County since 2022 has been reported by the Oakland County health department, just weeks after the county reported its first measles case of the year.

The health department does not believe there were any close contacts or exposures to the adult resident diagnosed with mumps, which is a contagious viral infection that affects the salivary glands and spreads through saliva or respiratory droplets from the mouth, nose or throat. The Oakland County case is the ninth person in Michigan to be diagnosed with mumps this year.

This mumps case, and the recent measles cases, shows the importance of vaccinations, according to the health department.

“This case of mumps, coming just weeks after Oakland County’s first measles case of the year, underscores the essential role of vaccination in protecting our communities,” Kate Guzmán, Oakland County health officer, said in a statement. “The MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine remains our best defense against measles, mumps and rubella, offering highly effective protection against these serious diseases and helping to prevent outbreaks.”

However, even people who are vaccinated can get mumps, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. cases of mumps decreased significantly after the mumps vaccine program began in 1967, but have increased since 2006.

There have been less than 700 cases of mumps per year in the U.S. since 2020, though for nine years since 2006 there have been more than 1,200, according to the CDC. In 2006, 2016 and 2017, there were more than 6,000 cases in the U.S. The 2016 and 2017 increases came from 150 separate outbreaks from January 2016 to June 2017, as a result of large parties and events. The 2006 cases mostly impacted Midwest college-aged students.

Symptoms of mumps may include a fever, headache, muscle aches, loss of appetite, fatigue, swelling on one or both sides of the face (chipmunk cheeks), jaw pain or swelling and pain or tenderness around the swelling.

Most people recover from mumps within two weeks, but serious complications can occur, like hearing loss and inflammation of the testicles, ovaries, breast tissue, pancreas, brain and tissue covering the brain and spinal cord, according to the health department. There is no treatment for mumps, just management of symptoms. Getting vaccinated is the best form of protection, according to the health department.

Children should receive the first dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine at 12 to 15 months old, and the second dose at 4 to 6 years old, or at least four weeks after the first dose, the health department recommends. The vaccine is available at Oakland County Health Division offices, some health care providers and pharmacies.

Oakland County also had the state’s first measles case diagnosed in mid-March. It was associated with international travel, and there were possible exposures at Henry Ford Hospital and Kruse and Muer restaurant, both in Rochester.

A second measles case was confirmed Wednesday in a Kent County resident, who had also recently traveled abroad and may have exposed people at the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.