UT student diagnosed with mumps
A University of Texas student has been diagnosed with the viral infection, mumps.
Officials notified students Wednesday evening with an alert via email.
The student's name was not released. Campus authorities say the student is an undergraduate in the College of Communication and resides off campus.
The email says individuals identified as having potential exposure are being directly notified by University Health Services in coordination with the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department. This includes students enrolled in classes with this student as well as the instructors.
The student attended a party at the Sigma Phi Epsilon house on Saturday, May 2, 2015. The chapter leadership is working with Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department to notify guests.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, Mumps is a contagious disease caused by the mumps virus. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Items used by an infected person, such as cups or phones, can also be contaminated with the virus, which may spread to others if those items are shared. In addition, the virus may spread when someone with mumps touches items or surfaces without washing their hands and someone else then touches the same surface and rubs their mouth or nose.
The most common symptoms include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Tiredness
- Loss of appetite
- Swollen and tender salivary glands under the ears on one or both sides (parotitis)
The CDC says symptoms typically appear 16-18 days after infection, but this period can range from 12-25 days.
Students should call UHS at 512-471-4955 or the UHS 24-Hour Nurse Advice Line 512-475-NURS (6877).