PHOENIX (AP) - Maricopa County health officials says the state's most populous county is experiencing a community-wide outbreak of mumps for the first time in decades.
Mumps is a contagious disease caused by a virus that spreads through saliva or mucus from the mouth, nose or throat of an infected person.
An infected person can spread mumps to others by kissing or by sharing food, drinks, eating utensils, cigarettes, lip gloss or any other items that come in contact with an infected person's saliva.
A person with mumps is considered contagious one to two days before swelling or pain starts, which means a person infected with mumps can spread it to others before they even know they have it.
