An undergraduate student from Penn receives a diagnosis of mumps while the epidemic develops in Temple

A Penn student was diagnosed on Monday with a confirmed mumps case in the laboratory, following an outbreak at Temple University that sickened at least 100 students.

The infected Penn student lives off campus and was diagnosed after lab tests done at the Student Health Service, according to an email sent to the Penn community by Wendy Pritchett, vice president of human resources, Jack Heuer, vice president of university life, Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum. and Benoit Dubé, Wellness Manager.

The message said public health officials thought Penn's case was unrelated to the temple epidemic.

"Penn's staff is in constant communication with the University of Pennsylvania Health System and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health to monitor this evolving situation," the message added.

Mumps is a contagious viral disease with symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, loss of appetite and swollen salivary glands. It is usually spread by saliva, for example by sharing food or drink.

Penn currently requires all full-time students and students living on campus to receive two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. The vaccine is 88% effective in preventing the disease, but mumps cases occur in the vaccinated populations.

The message encouraged Penn community members to wash their hands frequently and "avoid sharing food, drinks, utensils or electronic cigarettes." He added that symptomatic students should go to the Student Health Service, where they might have to self-isolate.

Since the end of February, an estimated 105 mumps cases have occurred in Temple, with 18 confirmed cases and 87 probable cases. Isolated cases have also been reported at the University of Drexel, West Chester University and Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. In response, Temple announced that it would require future students to become familiar with measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. also offering a free vaccination clinic for students, faculty and staff.