The Marshall Islands is dealing with an outbreak of mumps at local schools.
Photo: 123rf
The outbreak occurred over the last few months and by mid-week, the Ministry of Health reported over 250 cases.
The Ministry is tracking cases, with 17 schools around Majuro reporting students having mumps.
The acute viral disease commonly affects children and is spread from person to person by coughing and sneezing.
Our correspondent Giff Johnson said people who contract mumps were being urged to stay home.
"The Ministry of Health is doing a lot of awareness and mainly trying to get people to not go to work or go to school if they are sick and basically try to isolate themselves at home."
The spike in mumps cases came after a school immunisation program against Hepatitis A, that seemed to have worked.