82 Mumps Cases Reported In Illinois So Far

Public health officials say they hope the number of mumps cases in the state has peaked.

Through the end of April, 82 cases of the viral infection were reported in Illinois. That's more than triple what was reported in all of last year.

The Illinois Department of Public Health says this year's total is already the highest since 2008 when 91 cases were reported.  Authorities don't know what's behind the spike.
 
Sangamon County's Public Health administrator is Jim Stone. He says officials "hope that this is definitely on the decline.''
 
The (Springfield) State Journal-Register reports 15 cases have been reported Sangamon County and 40 have been reported in Morgan County.  Nine cases were reported among students last week on the University of Illinois' Urbana campus.
 
Mumps can cause swelling of the salivary glands, along with fever, headaches, muscle aches, tiredness and loss of appetite.