There is an ongoing outbreak of mumps — a viral infection that causes inflammation of salivary glands and swelling of the jaw and cheeks — at universities in the Boston area, Executive Director of Health and Wellness Dr. Michael J. LaFarr announced to the University community in a Wednesday email.

More consistent symptoms of mumps include fever, headache, stiff neck and loss of appetite. The mumps virus lives in the nose, mouth and throat of those infected and is spread to others through the air. It can also spread through direct contact with contaminated objects, such as a used tissue or drinking glass.

According to a March 9 Boston Globe article, the number of confirmed mumps cases in Massachusetts is up to 12, with nine of those cases coming from Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., and one case each from the University of Massachusetts Boston and Bentley University — also located in Waltham, Mass. There have been no reported cases of mumps at Brandeis, LaFarr wrote.

Mumps is more common in children than in adults and is most harmful to those who have never received the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine. A small percentage of those who have received the vaccine may not respond well to it according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. According to LaFarr’s email, the University requires that students have received two MMR vaccines — or have blood immunity to the virus — before enrolling.

In his email, LaFarr encouraged students to contact the Brandeis Health Center if they are concerned about exposure or symptoms. According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, symptoms typically appear 2 to 3 weeks after exposure, but individuals are not contagious until approximately 2 days before their glands start swelling. Individuals remain contagious until 5 days after their glands have begun swelling. In the event of contracting mumps, individuals should stay away from public places, where there could be non-vaccinated people, until they are feeling well again, according to LaFarr’s email.

—Rachel Moore