In a follow-up on the mumps situation at Indiana University, school officials say the case count rose by three cases last week, bringing the total number of cases to six since Feb. 21 on the Bloomington campus, the Indiana Daily Student reports.

Mumps virus/CDC
Mumps virus/CDC

IU spokesman Chuck Carney says five of the six students diagnosed with the viral infection live off campus. He says the university and health officials are offering free vaccinations to anyone who came in close contact with those with the illness.

From January 1 to February 28, 2019, 30 states and the District of Columbia in the U.S. reported mumps infections in 151 people to CDC.

Mumps is a highly infectious disease passed through saliva and respiratory secretions. While the incubation period is 12 to 25 days, symptoms often appear 16 to 18 days after exposure.

The symptoms for the mumps are similar to influenza (the flu) and often include tender swollen glands below the ear and along the jawline on one or both sides of the face and neck, headache, fever and cold-like symptoms. People with mumps are considered infectious from two days before swelling begins through five days after the start of swelling.

Mumps can be prevented with MMR vaccine. This protects against three diseases: measles, mumps, and rubella.

MMR vaccine is safe and effective. A person with two doses of MMR vaccine has about an 88% reduction in risk for mumps; a person with one dose has a 78% reduction in risk for mumps.