San Diego State University Student Diagnosed with Mumps After Exposure to Sick Housemate

This is the nineteenth case of mumps reported in San Diego this year.

A student at San Diego State University (SDSU) has been diagnosed with mumps, the County Health and Human Services Agency (CHHSA) reported Monday.

According to CHHSA, the student became ill after exposure to his housemate, also an SDSU student, who likely also had the virus.

The two students lived off campus and were current on their mumps vaccinations. Hospitalization was not necessary and both students have recovered.

It is unknown if the SDSU case is connected to recent cases reported at California State University San Marcos and San Diego Christian College.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 2,570 mumps cases in the country this year, the most since 2,612 were reported in 2010. Nineteen cases have been reported this year in San Diego.

Mumps is a highly contagious viral disease that can be spread by coughing, sneezing or close contact. Side effects include fever, headache, earache, and inflammation of the salivary glands which can cause swelling in the jaw. Post-pubescent males may experience pain in the testicles.

There is no treatment for mumps, and severe complications including meningitis, decreased fertility, permanent hearing loss, and fetal loss are possible but rare.

People exposed to the disease may not start seeing symptoms until 12 to 15 days after initial exposure.

For more information about the mumps virus, mumps vaccines and other vaccine-preventable diseases, visit the CHHSA immunization program website here.

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