Officials with the Indiana University (IU) at Bloomington have reported the third mumps case in the same number of weeks, according to the student newspaper, the Indiana Daily Student.

Infographic aimed at college students depicting symptoms of mumps and steps they can take to protect themselves.
Infographic aimed at college students depicting symptoms of mumps and steps they can take to protect themselves.

According to CDC guidelines, the campus is now experiencing an outbreak.

The Dubois County Herald reports that IU spokesman Chuck Carney says in the most recent case the student lived off-campus and left campus for this week’s spring break, which ends Sunday. Carney says the student’s infectious period ended Tuesday. Carney says the student was vaccinated for mumps.

University and health officials said Feb. 22 that two students who were roommates in an off-campus apartment contracted the disease. It’s unknown if the third student had contact with the roommates.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mumps is a viral illness that is transmitted by direct contact with respiratory droplets or saliva from an infected person. It is best known for painful, swollen salivary glands that show up as puffy cheeks and swollen jaw.

Boys may also have painful, swollen testicles. In some of these cases, fertility can be affected. Other symptoms include fever, headache, muscles aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite. There is no treatment, and symptoms usually resolve themselves within a few weeks.

Mumps is usually a mild disease in children, but adults may have more serious disease with complications. Complications can include deafness and encephalitis. Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain.

IU advises students with symptoms to stay home and immediately call the IU Health Center.

The MMR vaccine is safe and effective. Two doses of MMR vaccine are 88 percent effective in preventing mumps. It is a live virus vaccine and is not recommended for pregnant women or patients with a weakened immune system. Adults born before 1957 are generally considered to be immune to mumps and do not need to receive the MMR vaccine.