LSU has confirmed five students living off-campus have come down with the mumps. Doctor Frank Welch with the state office of public health says the contagious disease can spread through contact with saliva or respiratory droplets.
“Mumps is actually happening at many college campuses across the country, it’s probably not surprising that it has come to LSU, but we are taking this very seriously,” said Welch.
Welch says they are trying to determine if there’s a connection between the students, because they did not live in the same apartment.
“We’re still at the earliest parts of the investigation when we are trying to figure out whether these students got the mumps from a common source or whether just over the holiday break when they were visiting home and family,” said Welch.
Welch says you can protect yourself from getting the mumps by receiving two doses of the MMR vaccine. He says students should seek treatment if their glands are swollen under their ears or jaw.
“Be on alert on the alert for the signs and symptoms of mumps, which is a really bad cold, but then the characteristic is neck swelling on one or both sides,” said Welch.
