The Vermont Health Department is urging physicians and other health care providers across the state to be alert for “mumps.”
There’s been an outbreak of the disease in the Midwest.
There have been more than 600 cases in Iowa and the disease has spread to eight other states.
Mumps is characterized by fever, and swelling and tenderness of one or more glands under the jawbone.
Most of those affected in the Midwest outbreak are 18 to 24 years old.
Complications are rare, but they can occur.
A vaccine against mumps has been available since 1967, but it’s not 100% effective.