Mumps strikes on University of Manitoba campus

A number of students at the University of Manitoba's Fort Garry campus have become ill with mumps.The school issued a warning to studentsfrom the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority on Wednesday.

Mumps spreads through direct contact with saliva of an infected person.It can jump from person to person through the sharing of drinks, including water bottles, kissing, sneezing, and coughing, the WRHA said.

After exposure, it can take 25 days before a person develops symptoms.

The WRHA says if a person does developsymptoms or signs of mumps they should limit contact with others for five days and contact their health provider.

Symptoms of mumps include:

• Swollen, tender glands at the jaw line or on both sides of the face.
• Fever.
• Headache and muscle aches.

People can check to see the status of their immunization records with either their healthcare provider or public health office. If an adult has not received two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine then they can arrange for a vaccination with a healthcare provider or local public health office, said the WRHA.

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