The mumps outbreak in Central Ohio has been highly publicized as it continues to grow and spread with 309 cases as of Friday, including 183 cases linked to the Ohio State University. In addition, cases have been reported at Columbus State Community College.

Butler County Ohio Image/ David Benbennick
Butler County Ohio
Image/ David Benbennick

Now a mumps case has been confirmed at a school  in the southwestern portion of the state, in Oxford, Ohio. WLWT-5 in Cincinnati reported Friday that a confirmed case has been recorded in a female student at Miami University. The report notes the university sent out an email to students Friday afternoon detailing the case. 

Mumps is spread by droplets of saliva or mucus from the mouth, nose, or throat of an infected person, usually when the person coughs, sneezes or talks. Items used by an infected person, such as cups or softdrink cans, can also be contaminated with the virus, which may spread to others if those items are shared.

Symptoms typically appear 16-18 days after infection, but this period can range from 12-25 days after infection. It is usually a mild disease, but can occasionally cause serious complications.

The most common complication is inflammation of the testicles (orchitis) in males who have reached puberty; rarely does this lead to fertility problems. For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page.

Other rare complications include inflammation of the brain and/or tissue covering the brain and spinal cord(encephalitis/meningitis), inflammation of the ovaries (oophoritis) and/or breasts (mastitis) infemales who have reached puberty and deafness. Anyone who is not immune from either previous mumps infection or from vaccination can get mumps.