SAN DIEGO–The County Health and Human Services Agency says a person at San Diego Christian College in Santee has been diagnosed with mumps and may have exposed others on the campus.
The individual was on the campus on September 16, 19 and 20, said Tom Christensen, spokesman for the County Health and Human Services Agency.
“People who were on the campus during normal school hours on those days may have been exposed and could become ill with mumps 12-25 days later,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “We are encouraging immunizations for students and staff who are not up-to-date.”
Christensen says the individual was immunized and has recovered. The agency was not able to determine where the individual was exposed to the contagious disease, but there is no apparent relationship to the possible mumps exposure reported last week at California State University San Marcos.
Mumps is spread by coughing, sneezing or close contact with an infected person. Mumps causes a fever, headache, earache, and inflammation of the salivary glands which results in swelling and tenderness at the angle of the jaw. Anyone who thinks that they have mumps should contact their provider before going for care so proper precautions can be taken to prevent exposure to others.
Severe complications are rare, but can include meningitis, decreased fertility, permanent hearing loss, and, in extreme cases, fetal loss during first trimester of pregnancy. There is no treatment for mumps. Most people recover without problems.
