PORTLAND, Maine — A mumps outbreak is hitting college campuses across the country, and now a student in Maine is sick.
Health officials are investigating a case of mumps at the University of Southern Maine.
A student visited the University Health Center earlier this week, and lab tests confirmed Tuesday that one student had the mumps. They say that student is no longer contagious and is back in class.
The university identified more than 150 other students who were likely in proximity to this student while he was contagious, either in class with him or living with him. Those people were notified. Only four of them were not vaccinated, but none of them have showed signs of being sick.
The university also sent out an email to all faculty staff and students on campus to inform everyone of the illness on the USM campus. The university is working with the Maine Center for Disease Control to try to educate their campus about the illness.
Health officials are investigating whether the case in Maine may be related to a case in New Hampshire. The virus is spread by person-to-person contact and is preventable through vaccinations, hand washing and not sharing utensils or water bottles.
This is the first case of mumps since 2013, and there is no specific treatment.