4 Mumps Cases Confirmed At Illinois University

MACOMB, IL — The Illinois Department of Public Health said four confirmed cases of mumps — all involving students — were diagnosed at Western Illinois University. The contagious viral disease is best known for symptoms including puffy cheeks and swollen jaw. IDPH said it is working with McDonough County Health Department and Beu Health Center at WIU to investigate and contain the cases.

“Western Illinois University, in partnership with the McDonough County Health Department, has done an excellent job of informing students on how to avoid contracting mumps and what they should do if they begin to have symptoms,” IDPH Director Nirav D. Shah, M.D., J.D., said last week. “Because classes are ending this week, it’s important to share this information with the public so they can take precautions. Mumps is contagious and can be spread person-to-person, unlike some other illnesses.”

IDPH said students diagnosed with mumps were isolated to prevent the spread of the illness. Anyone who believes they came into contact with someone who had mumps should contact a health care provider about taking precautions before visiting a doctor's office to avoid infecting others, according to IDPH.

In addition to puffy cheeks and a swollen jaw due to swollen salivary glands, mumps symptoms include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Tiredness
• Loss of appetite

Symptoms typically appear 16 to 18 days after exposure to the illness, IDPH said. "Some people who get mumps have very mild or no symptoms, and often they do not know they have the disease," IDPH said in a news release. "Most people with mumps recover completely in a few weeks."

Mumps is spreads through saliva or mucus from the mouth, nose, or throat. An infected person can spread the virus by:

• coughing, sneezing, or talking;
• sharing items, such as cups or eating utensils; and
• touching objects or surfaces with unwashed hands that are then touched by others.

People can prevent the illness by making sure their MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine is up-to-date. Other ways to prevent the spread of mumps:

• Wash your hands well and often with soap and water.
• Do not share eating utensils and beverages with others.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• Clean frequently touched surfaces with soap and water.
• Avoid close contact with individuals who are sick.

A University of Iowa sophomore receives a mumps, measles and rubella vaccination shot at the school's Student Health Service April 27, 2006 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Mark Kegans/Getty Images)