What to Know
- Mumps is highly contagious and is characterized by fever, headache and fatigue, among other symptoms
- The disease can't be treated and while the vaccine is not 100 percent effective, two doses of the vaccine are the best protection
- Officials say the affected students have been isolated
Thirteen cases of mumps have now been confirmed at the State University of New York at New Paltz, an increase of four since last week.
At least eight members of the school's intercollegiate swim team, along with one athletics staff member, are among the sick. Swim practices and workouts were suspended as a precaution at the onset of the initial outbreak.
It's not clear if the additional four cases are connected to the mumps spread on the swim team, which county health officials first learned of a month ago.
Last week, college health officials sent a letter to users of the school's athletic facilities cautioning them about possible infection.
Mumps is a highly contagious viral disease characterized by fever, headache and swelling of the salivary glands. Other symptoms include low-grade fever, fatigue, muscle aches and loss of appetite. After a person is exposed, symptoms usually appear 16 to 18 days after infection, but this period can range from 12-25 days after infection. Mumps can't be treated.
The affected students, who have been immunized against mumps, have been isolated for the recommended period of time.
Twenty students who have not been immunized have been sent home until December.
Campus tours and general information sessions will proceed as scheduled, according to the Daily Freeman of Kingston, but residence halls home to affected students will be avoided for the time being.
