In a follow-up on the mumps situation at Texas State University in San Marcos, the Hays County Health Department reports four students at the school have tested positive for mumps as of Wednesday.
Three are roommates and we have not been able to identify a link between those three and the fourth student. Three students were tested due to suspicious symptoms, but they have come back as negative for mumps.
Mumps: Why it’s seen a resurgence
Mumps is an acute infectious disease caused by the mumps virus. It is spread via coughing, sneezing, kissing, sharing glasses or utensils, and touching a surface that has the virus on it. Mumps is suspected when there is swelling of one or more of the saliva glands. The swelling may just be on one side, but is more commonly on both. Sometimes the glands under the tongue or jaw are affected also. Other possible symptoms of mumps include: fever, headache, earache, tiredness, sore muscles, dry mouth, poor appetite, and trouble talking, chewing, or swallowing.
Before the swelling occurs, flu-like symptoms appear in about half of those who get the virus. In children under 5, mumps can show up as a lung infection. Fever usually lasts 1-6 days but enlargement of the glands may go on for 10 days or longer. A few people may have little or no symptoms but can still spread the virus. When a person is exposed to mumps, it usually takes from 16 – 18 days for them to get sick, but it can range from 12 – 25 days. The virus is most contagious from 2 days before the swelling starts until 5 days after it goes away.
Waning vaccine-derived immunity linked to mumps re-emergence: Study
