by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - The situation surrounding the outbreak of the mumps on Guam just escalated. The Department of Public Health announces there are now more than 200 cases locally, and that the number is increasing daily. Public Health says most of mumps cases are occurring in upper elementary and middle school students but almost all ages have been affected including numerous communities and villages around the island.

Mumps is a viral illness that can cause fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness and painful swelling of the salivary glands under the ears and jaws. Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are on island, helping Public Health get the outbreak under control. Likewise they will start calling local doctors' offices daily to check on any new mumps cases that may have been seen. The local agency will also be holding a measles-mumps-rubella outreach clinic on Saturday, May 15 from 10 in the morning until 2 in the afternoon at the Micronesia Mall.

Free MMR vaccines will be offered to children from ages 1 to 18 who have not received their first does or have not completed the recommended two-dose series.