In a follow-up on the mumps outbreak at Temple University in Philadelphia, city health officials report 11 confirmed cases (8 in Temple Student Health, 1 by NJ DOH, 1 Montgomery County DOH and 1 Bucks County DOH) and eight probable cases.

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.

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.