The county Public Health Services Department on Friday confirmed three cases of mumps, along with two probable ones, at San Diego State University.
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The university’s Dr. Tanushree Ghosh said in a written statement that the five cases “are connected and within a student athletic team.”
“Importantly, the students are no longer considered contagious,” wrote Ghosh, the Student Health Services medical director.
She said that Student Health Services is working closely with the county to respond to the outbreak.
“Out of an abundance of caution, the university, together with PHS, conducted detailed symptom-screening and testing for all members across the student athletic team, with regular screening ongoing,” Ghosh wrote. The team was not identified by officials.
She added that the county is offering screening and vaccine clinics for students who were potential close contacts to those with mumps, and that those people would be directly contacted as part of the county’s contact tracing efforts.
“Those who do not receive the separate outreach about the clinics have not been identified as a potential close contact.” Ghosh urged students or faculty with symptoms to “self-isolate and see a medical provider as soon as possible.”
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Students may call 619-594-4325 or the Nurse Advice Line for after-hours care at 858-225-3105.
According to the county, the students first showed symptoms on Sept. 6, with the first case confirmed this week.
Mumps is a contagious viral illness that spreads easily in close-contact settings (usually within 3 feet), and “can spread through kissing, sharing food or drinks or exposure to coughs or sneezes,” according to a county statement. A person can be contagious for two days before symptoms appear and while they are ill.
People who are immune-compromised face higher risk. Symptoms include appetite loss, body aches, fatigue, fever and headache, followed by inflammation or swelling of the salivary glands in the cheeks, ovaries or testicles.
The illness “can progress to infection in and around the brain,” county officials said, adding it can also cause female or male sterility.
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The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine lowers the risk of complications.
