IU: 7th mumps case confirmed

In a follow-up on the mumps cases at the Indiana University at Bloomington campus, a seventh confirmed mumps case has been reported.

According to the Indiana Daily Student, the seventh student infected with mumps is in the same fraternity as two members who had previously been diagnosed, Carney said. Two of the three students live in the fraternity house.

The Indiana State Department of Health said the cases are not widespread enough to issue a campus-wide clinic, Carney said.

Mumps is a caused by a virus. It affects the parotid glands that make saliva. These glands are in front of the ears and below the jaw. Infection can occur on one or both sides causing swelling and pain of those glands. In recent years there have been mumps outbreaks on college campuses, including Bloomington.

Mumps is spread through indirect or direct contact with an infected person’s nose or throat droplets. It can be spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes or shares drinks or eating utensils. People with mumps can spread it for up to 2 days before and 5 days after the start of symptoms. Anyone with mumps should stay home during that time to prevent giving the illness to others. Some people who get mumps have very mild or no symptoms, and often do not know they have the disease. Symptoms typically appear 16-18 days after infection, but this period can range from 12-25 days after infection.

The MMR vaccine is safe and prevents mumps at the rate of 88% on average after two doses.





From January 1 to March 29, 2019, 34 states and the District of Columbia in the U.S. reported mumps infections in 426 people to CDC.