Lab-confirmed mumps cases in Guelph connected to keg party

Two confirmed cases of the mumps in Guelph are linked to a keg party in the area of the university, the health unit says.

The Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health Unit has confirmed three cases of the mumps.

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Chuck Ferguson, the manager of communications with the health unit,said it is advising students celebrating St. Patrick's Day not to sharebeer or glasses with each other.

"Mumps is very contagious. It's a virus that's easily be spread if you drink out of somebody's cup who has it," Ferguson said.

"Someone can have the mumps, can incubate it and not show symptoms."

Doctors on alert in Guelph

The Wellington DufferinGuelph Public Health Unit was able to track the two cases to a keg party after being alerted by other health units.Ferguson saidthe three lab confirmed cases were university age students who became very sick and went home to different parts of the province where they were diagnosed.

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The health unit has now alerted physicians in Guelph.

"We advise physicians in the area there is mumps now and if someone is symptomatic they then do the testing for mumps right away," Ferguson said.

Symptoms include painful and swollen salivary glands, fever, headaches, muscle aches and having trouble chewing.