Hawaiʻi Mumps Case Reveals Under-vaccination Concerns

While vaccination rates among kindergartners in Hawaiʻi improved last school year compared to the 2023-2024 school year, gaps in coverage remain a health risk.

For example, the Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) recently confirmed a case of mumps in an individual on Hawaiʻi Island. Mumps is a contagious viral illness that spreads through coughing, sneezing, talking, or sharing items.

On October 6, 2025, the DOH stated that The case is community-acquired and not travel-related, suggesting that mumps may currently be circulating on the island. 

The DOH advises anyone who was a close contact of this person to monitor themselves for symptoms for 25 days after exposure. Anyone who develops symptoms should isolate for five days after the onset of symptoms to prevent the spread of the infection to others.

The DOH reported on October 2, 2025, that nearly 40,000 students statewide (20.7%) were not up to date with Hawaiʻi's school-required immunizations. This rate represents a slight improvement from the 21.3% of students who were not up to date as of the 2023-2024 school year.

This figure includes students with exemptions, missing records, or incomplete vaccinations.

The gap is most pronounced among seventh graders, where more than half (51.6%) were not up to date, compared to 15.6% of kindergartners.

'With record measles cases reported nationally and worldwide, as well as a recent surge of pertussis cases here in Hawai'i, the DOH urges families to check their child's vaccination records and make sure they are up to date, writes the DOH.

As of October 8, 2025, the U.S. CDC has not issued a travel alert regarding the potential risk to travelers regarding the recent mumps case. However, the DOH and CDC recommend everyone speak to a healthcare provider about MMR vaccination options.