Students encouraged to practice mumps prevention

South Texas College is working in collaboration with the Hidalgo County Health and Human Services Department to raise awareness about six confirmed and 14 probable cases of mumps in Hidalgo County.

According to the Hidalgo County Health and Human Services Department, mumps is a contagious viral illness. Symptoms include parotitis (swollen or tender salivary glands), orchitis (swollen or tender testicles), low-grade fever, malaise (tiredness), and/or myalgia (muscle aches). Nevertheless, some individuals do not exhibit any symptoms.

Mumps is spread through respiratory droplets (created when you cough and sneeze) and saliva. Sharing cups and utensils may also spread the virus. The time from being infected with the virus to developing symptoms can be as long as 25 days, but is typically 14-18 days. People with mumps are infectious three days before to five days after the onset of parotitis. Infected people without symptoms of mumps may still be able to transmit the virus.

Those who may be experiencing symptoms are advised to visit their primary care provider.

People can prevent contracting the mumps by receiving the MMR vaccine, which also protects individuals from contracting measles and rubella.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, those who have received both doses of the MMR vaccine have about an 88 percent reduction in risk from contracting mumps and those who have received one dose have about a 78 percent reduction in risk from getting the disease.

For more information please visit https://content.presspage.com/uploads/2206/2019hcmumpshealthadvisory-889874.pdf?10000.