WESLACO – The Texas Department of State Health Services is advising health care providers to be on alert for mumps as the state has reached a 20-year high in mumps cases. Some cases involved possible exposures on South Padre Island.

The cases potentially linked to SPI were first reported this week when another state health department contacted DSHS about a patient with mumps, who traveled to the area for spring break.

DSHS alerted other states and was notified of 13 mumps cases in people who traveled to SPI between March 8 and March 22 from six states, including two cases from Texas.

Health care providers should consider mumps in patients with compatible symptoms and ask them about travel out of state, to SPI from March 8 to 22 or about any possible exposure to someone with mumps.

The department also reminds providers they must report suspected cases to their local health department within one work day.

Texas has had 221 mumps cases this year, the largest since there were 234 cases in 1994.