Two Local Children Diagnosed With Mumps

Two children in Grand Traverse County have been diagnosed with mumps. Mumps is a virus that isn't very serious in children, but can cause severe complications in adults. The Grand Traverse County health department says the children diagnosed are ages 2 and 5, and are not related. The virus is preventable with two does of the MMR, or Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine before age 6. Symptoms include low fevers and swollen glands under the ears. Mumps is highly contagious and can cause men to become sterile and pregnant women to have miscarriages.