On March 4, the Division of Student Affairs at the University of Massachusetts Boston sent out a mass email to all students and faculty to announce a mumps exposure.

The email mentions a hockey game taking place on February 20 against Southern Maine University. One of the opposing team players was recently diagnosed with the illness.

Mumps is a viral infection that primarily affects the parotid glands — one of three pairs of saliva-producing glands, situated below and in front of the ears. The odds of mumps are usually low since the vaccination in 1967.

The reasoning for the email is due to the contagious element of the illness. University Health Services sent out the email in regards to informing the UMass Boston community of the symptoms.

Most common ones are swelling of the cheeks and jaw area, fever, headache, stiff neck, and loss of appetite. There is no specific treatment for mumps.

University Health Services advises any and all students or faculty who may be experiencing these symptoms to go to their primary care physician, alerting the doctor of the confirmed case at UMass Boston.