Student health officials at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio have reported a confirmed mumps case on campus. They advise the campus community take caution and seek medical attention if you suspect you have been exposed to mumps.

Image/Columbus Public Health Facebook page
Image/Columbus Public Health Facebook page

According to reports, the case is in a student that lives off-campus.

Mumps outbreaks have been seen at a number of colleges and universities this year, including in Indiana, Massachusetts and Kentucky.

Nationally, the CDC reports 467 mumps cases through Apr. 1 this year to date.

Mumps is an acute viral disease characterized by fever, swelling, and tenderness of one or more salivary glands. Mumps is not common in the United States due to robust vaccination programs. The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine protects against mumps, though follow-up doses are sometimes needed.

Mumps is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes and sends the mumps virus into the air. The virus can land in other people’s noses or throats when they breathe or put their fingers to their mouth or nose after handling an infected surface.

Mumps is generally transmitted from about 3 days before symptoms appear to about 5 days after, although the virus has been isolated from saliva as early as 7 days before to as late as 9 days after the onset of symptoms.

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