The Health Department reported today that seven more people have come down with the mumps, bringing the total to 96 so far this year in Hawaii.

The new cases confirmed this week involve five adults and two children, none of whom needed to be hospitalized. The highly contagious viral disease can cause a tender, swollen jaw, fever, fatigue and aches, but sometimes causes no symptoms.

Dr. Sarah Park, state epidemiologist, advised people to get the MMR vaccine (for measles, mumps and rubella) if they were born in 1957 or later and are not already immune to mumps. If they already have a documented dose of the vaccine, they should consider a second dose, she said.

Most people born before that year are already immune to what once was a common childhood disease. Mumps is spread when a person coughs or sneezes, shares cups or eating utensils, or touches contaminated surfaces and then the eyes, nose or mouth.

For more information, visit health.hawaii.gov/docd/department-of-health-investigating-mumps-cases/