"I think we will," she said Monday. "I do know that Harvey County is getting its second round. They had a child who had mumps and then the father last week got the mumps. So they're seeing the second wave."

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported Monday 487 confirmed cases in 49 counties, including all four surrounding counties of Harvey, McPherson and Dickinson and Chase.

Serene said she has received unconfirmed reports off the street, and one report of a Marion County resident being confirmed with mumps by a physician in Harvey County, but, she said, "So far in Marion County we have had no confirmed cases reported to the health department at this time."

She added: "We are encouraging physcians to let us know if they even suspect anything. So far I haven't heard any word of that for the mumps or the measles."

According to Howard Rodenberg, director of the Division of Health for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, vaccination is still the best prevention against mumps, for both adults and children.

"If you have not received the two recommended doses of MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine, make sure you get vaccinated right away," Rodenberg said.

"It's also important to practice good hand washing; avoid sharing drinking cups and eating utensils; and avoid close contact with anyone who has the mumps."

MMR vaccination is required for kindergarten school entry in Kansas. The first vaccination is given in the first year of life. The second is best given a few months later and must be given prior to school entry.

The majority of the individuals in Kansas with mumps have received either the recommended two MMR vaccinations or at least one MMR.

Serene said the state is not encouraging people to get a third vaccination.

"People who believe they are at risk, or who want to get the MMR, if they have never had, we certainly will vaccinate them," she said. "Or if they have proof of having only one MMR, we will vaccinate, but we are not advertising for the third one, and the state is not recommending giving three."

Serene added that even if people come in for a vaccination will take about 24 days to become effective.

"That's why it's good to have had the vaccinations on schedule," she said. "Chances are if you have been exposed and get the vaccination, it probably won't help."

The other thing to keep in mind is that have had the appropriate vaccinations is not full-proof for everybody.

"We have to keep in mind that immunizations are only 90 percent effective," Serene said. "So there is that small 10 percent who won't be protected. Also, this generation has never been exposed to mumps before, so we have not ever built up a natural immunity."

She said people born before 1957, are believed to have a natural immunity.

"When we were growing up, it wasn't really a common thing but it was around," she said. "So people were exposed to the virus and were able to develop their own immunities toward it."

And a measles outbreak, too

So far an outbreak of measles has been confined to neighboring Harvey County. is usually a relatively mild viral infection, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

The emerging cases were the first to be reported in Kansas since 2000.

"Measles is much easier to contract than mumps," said Diedre Serene, Marion County Health Department. "It's a lot more contagious."

That said, people who received their MMR (mumps, measles, rubella) vaccinations should be protected.

As an added precaution, Serene advises people to wash their hands frequently and practice good hygiene.

Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, rash and sometimes mild itching and eye sensitivity to light.

The fever usually subsides in three to five days and patients are contagious from one to two days before first symptoms appear-about four days before the rash appears-until four days after the rash appears.

Children who have measles almost always recovery fully, but complications such as diarrhea, ear infection, pneumonia and encephalitis can occur.

In rare cases, measles can cause death, mostly due to pneumonia.