In what sounds like a broken record, the number of people with the mumps at a local college continues to spread.

As of Tuesday, the SUNY New Paltz Student Health Service confirmed 36 cases of the mumps on campus, that’s up seven from last week.

Several members of the college swim team and one athletics staff member have been inflicted, the colleges says.

The number of cases continues to rise. Two weeks ago the college confirmed 23 cases of the mumps, the week prior it was 15, the week before 13.

The affected students, who have been immunized against mumps, are being isolated for the recommended period of time. Immunizations work but are not 100% effective, officials say.

19 students who haven’t been immunized have been sent home until Dec. 23, which follows the Ulster County Health Department and the New York State Health Department guidelines, officials say.

All full-time SUNY New Paltz students are required to get immunizations for the measles, rubella and the mumps, or show documentation for a religious or other exemption. However, students enrolled in six credits are less aren’t required to show immunization records.

2016 has seen the most cases of mumps, primarily on college campuses across 45 states and the District of Columbia, since 2006, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Recently, the Ulster County Health Department reported that there is a probable case of mumps at New Paltz high school. An unnamed student was in close contact with a SUNY New Paltz student, who was previously diagnosed with mumps and was fully immunized.

Because the high school student was in close contact with a New Paltz middle school student and an elementary student, officials fear the entire New Paltz school district is at risk of an exposure to the mumps.

The college canceled all SUNY New Paltz intercollegiate swim meets until 2017.

Campus tours and general information sessions will continue on campus as scheduled.

Mumps is caused by a respiratory virus. Symptoms include painful swelling of the salivary glands near the ears and under the jaw, fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue and decreased appetite.

The transmission of mumps is through close contact, sharing of utensils, drinking glasses, and kissing.

 

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