Mumps Confirmed at Tufts Campus

MEDFORD, MA - A Tufts student on the Medford/Somerville campus has been diagnosed with mumps, and a second student was suspected to have the illness, according to university officials.

In a letter to the Tufts community, Medical Director of Health Service Margaret Higham, Director of Environmental Health and Safety Stephen Larson, and Dean of Student Affairs, AS&E Mary Pat McMahon wrote that the contagious illness has been confirmed on campus and that the school has informed municipal and state health officials.

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The letter says students "developing swelling and pain of the side of the cheeks or over the jaw should come to Health Service for evaluation." Students suspected to have mumps may be placed in isolation for five days.

Mumps can be spread through coughing and respiratory droplets. Several students at Harvard were recently diagnoses with mumps.

For more information about mumps, see http://www.cdc.gov/mumps/. If you have questions, call Health Service at 617-627-3350 or visit during regular hours.