Health officials at Indiana University in Bloomington are investigating several cases of the mumps, according to the Herald Times.
In an email to staff and students, IU Provost Lauren Robel confirmed five students on the university's Bloomington campus have contracted the mumps since December. The university is working with the Monroe County Health Department and the Indiana State Department of Health to identify individuals at risk of contracting the mumps and implement measures to halt further transmission of the highly contagious virus.
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"Additionally, IU advises that the campus and surrounding community educate themselves about the symptoms, transmission and prevention of mumps," said Ms. Robel in the email, according to the Herald Times.
The mumps are best known for painful, swollen salivary glands that cause puffy cheeks and swollen jaw. It is a highly communicable disease transmitted by person-to-person contact and is typically accompanied by initial symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness and loss of appetite.
To learn more about the mumps, click here.
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