The University of Wisconsin-Madison's first case of the mumps was confirmed yesterday, leaving university officials and students alike wary of whether there will be more in coming weeks.

The 20-year-old female undergraduate marks the third laboratory confirmed diagnosis in Dane County and the 23rd case statewide, all likely stemming from an outbreak in Iowa that started nearly five months ago.

The infected UW-Madison student lives in an off-campus apartment and University Health Services officials assured that proper safety precautions are being taken to prevent further spread of the virus. Persons thought to have had recent contact with the infected woman are being asked to verify vaccination.

In addition to the mass e-mail sent yesterday to all UW-Madison students encouraging preventive steps, UHS epidemiologist Craig Roberts noted an array of links available on the UHS website with additional information on the virus.

According to Roberts, news of the mumps case is spreading quickly around campus, and students are not hesitating to contact UHS with concerns.

"The phone system here has been overwhelmed today," Roberts said. "Most of the calls, though, are in regards to immunization questions rather than to report symptoms."

Immunization shots are available at UHS, but only for those who never had a shot or only received the first of the two-shot series, Roberts noted. Additionally, routine blood checks do not function as immunity checks; those unsure about their immunization history must consult their medical records, Roberts said.

Although only one mumps case has been confirmed at UW-Madison, Roberts said this campus is likely to see more.

"[Mumps] spreads very slowly because the incubation time is long, but it is gaining speed," Roberts said. "With the Mifflin Street Block Party this weekend, when people are sharing things saliva to saliva, students need to be careful."

In addition to direct contact with saliva or infected droplets, the mumps virus can also be spread from person to person through the air.

Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain and general discomfort — all symptoms generally associated with the flu. Swelling of the salivary glands is also common.

The virus is contagious for three to five days before symptoms appear, and its development can be delayed for 12 to 25 days following exposure.

According to a UW-Madison release, anyone diagnosed with mumps will not be permitted to attend classes, labs or work; they will be asked to isolate themselves until they are no longer contagious.

"Faculty are usually pretty good about working with things like this," Ervin Cox, UW-Madison assistant dean of students, said, adding infected students not able to attend classes or finals will be able to make up their work.

Health problems are not put on hold during finals week, he noted, and the university is prepared to accommodate for resulting issues.

"As of right now, we have a student with the mumps, another student in the hospital with a major liver infection and one hit by a car … so we'll treat the mumps like any other student who can't make it to class."

At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee — where Norris Heath Center director Julia Bonner said there are 15 confirmed, probable or suspect cases of the mumps — school officials are also working closely with city health department officials to make students aware of the virus and encourage preventative measures.

"Although UWM is not a residential campus … we have certainly targeted the dorm group as far as encouraging them to get the vaccination because the dorm is right in the middle of campus," Bonner said.

With the virus showing up in more spots around the state, other campuses are also gearing up for prevention and treatment.

According to Diane Zanto, director of the student health center at UW-Oshkosh, two probable cases there, and the likelihood of more to come, have caused school officials to send an informative e-mails to students, very similar to what UW-Madison students received yesterday.

"We need to get students to think about it and get parents to make sure their kids have had their vaccinations," Roberts said.

Additional information about the mumps virus is available on the UHS website, and students experiencing symptoms are encouraged to call UHS to schedule an appointment.