State health officials are monitoring mumps cases on the campus of LSU in Baton Rouge.
The virus reportedly has been confirmed in three students over the past week.
The most common symptoms include swollen or tender salivary glands below the ear or jaw, low-grade fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, and loss of appetite.
Mumps is spread through coughing, sneezing, talking, drinking and eating after another person, kissing, sharing lip balm, etc. It can also spread indirectly when people with mumps touch surfaces without washing their hands, and then others touch those same surfaces and proceed to rub their mouths or noses.
The average incubation period for mumps is 16-18 days, with a range of 12-25 days.
There is no “cure” for mumps, only supportive treatment such as bed rest, fluids and fever reduction. Most cases will recover on their own.