The symptoms of mumps start with a low-grade fever, headache, body ache, and malaise and take two to four weeks to appear.

The enlargement of the salivary glands is the most characteristic sign of the illness.

The Kerala State Surveillance Unit of the Directorate of Health Services data shows that there have been:

Officials said that the majority of the cases were coming from the Malappuram district and other areas in north Kerala.

Kerala's vaccination reluctance has historically been greatest in the district of Malappuram.

An immunization expert, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that the "MMR vaccination makes no sense for a government programme because it doesn't protect against the mumps as well as it does against measles and rubella, where more than 90% of people can be protected with just two doses."