There have been a number of students at the University of Manitoba, Fort Garry campus recently diagnosed with Mumps.

Mumps is spread by direct contact with the saliva of an infected person (e.g., from coughing, sneezing, sharing drinks (e.g. water bottles) or kissing). It could take up to 25 days after your last exposure before you develop symptoms.

What are the signs and symptoms of mumps?

Mumps often starts with cold-like symptoms:

· Swollen and tender glands at the jaw line on one or both sides of the face.

· Fever

· Headache and muscle aches

What should you do?

1. If you develop symptoms or signs suggestive of Mumps, limit contact with others and contact your health care provider. Phone ahead to alert the clinic that you suspect you may have mumps so that they can take adequate precautions to prevent spread to others

2. While awaiting diagnosis, you should limit contact with others until 5 days after the swollen glands first appear.

3. Check your immunization records to see if you have had two doses of the MMR vaccine. You can contact your health care provider or public health office for assistance in accessing your records.

4. If you have not had two doses of MMR vaccine then you should either arrange for vaccination with your health care provider or contact your local public health office a to receive an immunization.

For further information please see:

Manitoba Health website: http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/diseases/mumps.html

Healthlinks: http://www.wrha.mb.ca/healthinfo/healthlinks/

University Health Service: http://umanitoba.ca/student/health/

Health and Wellness: http://umanitoba.ca/student/health-wellness/index.html