COLUMBUS, Ohio – Health officials say they’ve confirmed two cases of mumps at Columbus State Community College as an outbreak of the illness continues to spread.
Two Columbus State students have been included in the official case count, Columbus Public Health spokesman Jose Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said Thursday the agency is also looking into reports of two more cases of mumps at the school.
UPDATE: The Delaware General Health District says it has found a “cluster of probable mumps cases” within one unidentified school building and is recommending all students who are “immunocompromised” or have not been vaccinated be kept home for at least 25 days or until they are vaccinated, said spokeswoman Traci Whittaker.
Officials have confirmed 234 cases of the contagious viral illness in the area this year. They say 149 of those are linked to Ohio State University, where the outbreak began in January.
Mabel Freeman, Columbus State’s interim vice president for student affairs, tells the Columbus Dispatch the school has encouraged good hygiene and vaccination since the outbreak.