Two outbreaks of mumps in North Texas are being looked into by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), and they say attending cheerleading contests might be the culprit in mumps exposure. The state's worst mumps outbreak in years may have started at the North Texas cheerleading competitions recently.

People Who Attended Four Cheerleading Events Are At Risk For Getting Mumps

According to Outbreak News Today, DSHS has identified 11 mumps cases already, and these are linked to four competitions: the NCA North Texas Classic and North Texas Division II Classic, College Park Center at the University of Texas at Arlington on November 6th; Dallas Platinum Championship, Dr. Pepper Arena, Frisco on November 19th; NCA Holiday Classic, Dr. Pepper Arena, Frisco, December 3rd; and SC Christmas Classic, Dallas Convention Center pm December 10th.

Letters have already been sent out to people who attended these events, Dallas News reported. Those who attended the events and developed mumps, later on, should contact their health care provider to let them know about their exposure to mumps.

US Mumps Outbreak Highlights Importance Of Vaccine

Texas is not the only state experiencing mumps outbreak. Missouri, Washington and Arkansas are said to have an increase in mumps cases as well.

Mumps is a viral infected which affects children most often. The virus is contagious for about two to three days before and up to seven to eight days after the disease breaks out. There is no cure for mumps, but getting vaccinated is the best protection against it.

Health officials are asking everyone to make sure family members have been fully vaccinated. A single dose of the MMR vaccine can prevent about 78% of mumps cases, and a dose and a booster shot later can provide closer to 90% protection. Getting a vaccine not only protects a person but those around him as well, health experts say, especially those who can't be vaccinated because they are too young or have a medical condition that prevents it.