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Public health officials have confirmed a mumps outbreak at San Diego State University (SDSU). Five confirmed and/or probable cases have been identified as of September 18, and all the cases are among student athletes on a single team. The students are no longer considered contagious. In response, the San Diego County Public Health Services hosted a clinic for students to screen for mumps symptoms and also to provide a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine boosters to students who have been identified as a close contact of any of the cases. SDSU is also cautioning students to watch for swelling near the neck or jaw and to avoid risky behaviors, such as sharing food or beverages. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average incubation period for mumps is 16–18 days, with a range of 12–25 days, so more cases could come to light on the campus.
Rare presentation: Highly contagious, mumps has been rare for a generation, but starting in 2006, CDC reports an increase in mumps cases with around 357 cases in 2024 and 332 cases in 2025. As of September 10, 2026—the most recent national data available—CDC reports a total of 157 mumps cases nationwide for the year. Most urgent care clinicians have likely never seen a case of mumps, but CDC offers a clinical diagnosis fact sheet that includes testing, reporting, and isolation best practices.