Opposing Digits

April 4, 2006 -- Iowa is experiencing an epidemic of mumps, a viral infection usually made rare by vaccination.

Iowa's public health department reports 300 confirmed, probable, or suspected cases of mumps through April 3.

That's a "dramatic increase," Iowa public health officials say in a letter to Iowa health care facilities. Since 2001, the U.S. has averaged 265 mumps cases per year, with five of those cases in Iowa, according to the CDC.

# posted by madthumbs @ 10:48 AM