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DENVER — An alert has gone out to healthcare providers throughout Colorado about a mumps outbreak.

The Denver Post reports there are at least four confirmed cases of mumps in metro Denver and two other probable cases were under investigation.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued a warning for doctors and nurses to watch for more possible patients.

The health department said it believed the source of illness is a person who recently moved to Colorado from Iowa. He reported his symptoms of fever and swelling under his ears and side of his face in early January.

Officials also said three of his friends came down with mumps after spending time with him while he was still contagious. They went as a group for treatment at Denver Health Adult Urgent care earlier this month.

The Colorado health department said three people who work at the clinic developed mumps symptoms even though they said they were vaccinated against the disease.

Symptoms

  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Muscle aches
  • Tiredness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Swelling of salivary glands near jaw line and below ears

The health department said severe complications from mumps are rare, but they do happen. They include swelling of the brain and/or swelling of tissue covering the brain and spinal cord, spontaneous abortion and deafness.

There is no treatment for mumps. It can be prevented by taking the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine.

RELATED: Mumps fact sheet

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