Two cases of mumps confirmed at Eastern Washington University
May 31, 2019, 7:37 AM
These are the first recorded cases of mumps in Spokane County this year. (AP)
(AP)
Eastern Washington University has confirmed two students have the mumps.
Health officials shed light on measles following 6th case in King County
School officials sent out an email to all students, faculty and staff Thursday, urging them to be aware of symptoms. Those include fever, muscle aches, and loss of appetite.
The virus is spread through saliva, with symptoms showing up two days after someone is already infectious. It can also take up to two weeks to recover.
According to The Spokesman-Review, these are the first reported mumps cases in Spokane County this year.
This comes not long after the Washington State Legislature passed a bill removing personal exemptions for the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines.
Two out of those three illnesses continue to cause problems in the state, though, with Western Washington up to nine confirmed measles cases as part of a recent outbreak.
EWU is encouraging its students to get up to date on their vaccinations to prevent the spread of mumps, although one health official told the Review that up to 13 percent of people vaccinated against the virus can still contract it.
