All of the following would help limit the spread of mumps arising from a dental practice EXCEPT:

Correct answer: C. Waiting until the exposure is laboratory-confirmed as mumps before notifying anyone

• A. Exclusion of an infectious team member for 5 days after parotitis onset is standard CDC guidance and directly interrupts transmission.
• B. Two documented doses of MMR is the primary preventive measure; verifying immunity in patients and staff is entirely appropriate.
• C. CORRECT — this is the EXCEPT. Mumps is contagious from roughly 2 days before parotid swelling to 5 days after. Waiting for laboratory confirmation burns the entire window in which contacts could be isolated or offered prophylaxis. Public health notification is made on clinical SUSPICION, not on confirmation.
• D. Source control with a mask on the symptomatic person reduces respiratory droplet spread and is an appropriate measure.

Note: The general principle across all reportable communicable disease questions: report early on suspicion. Delaying notification until certainty is achieved is almost always the wrong answer.