Mumps Outbreak Confirmed Among San Diego State University Athletes
At a glance
- Five mumps cases identified in a single SDSU athletic team.
- San Diego County Public Health Services is coordinating response.
- Screenings and MMR boosters offered to close contacts.
San Diego County Public Health Services confirmed an outbreak of mumps among student-athletes at San Diego State University, meeting the threshold for an outbreak as defined by the CDC.
Health officials stated that, as of September 18, 2026, five cases had been identified within one student athletic team at the university. The cases include three confirmed and two probable infections, and the first individual began showing symptoms on September 6, 2026.
The outbreak prompted coordination between San Diego County Public Health Services, the California Department of Public Health, and SDSU officials. Their response includes testing individuals who were in close contact with those affected and providing additional preventive measures.
San Diego State University announced in a letter to its community that all five cases were linked to a single athletic team and that, at the time of the announcement, none of the affected students remained contagious. The university also communicated ongoing efforts to monitor and manage the situation.
What the numbers show
- Five cases identified: three confirmed, two probable.
- First symptom onset recorded on September 6, 2026.
- CDC outbreak threshold is three or more linked cases.
During the outbreak, Public Health Services is offering screenings and MMR vaccine booster shots to students who may have been in close contact with the identified cases. These measures are intended to prevent further spread within the campus community.
Mumps is a viral illness that transmits easily in settings where people are in close proximity, such as athletic teams. According to health authorities, individuals can be contagious from two days before symptoms appear until they are no longer ill.
Common symptoms of mumps include fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite, typically followed by swelling of the salivary glands. Vaccination with the MMR vaccine is recognized as the most effective way to reduce the risk of complications and control outbreaks.
San Diego County Public Health Services continues to monitor the situation in collaboration with state and university officials, and preventive actions remain in place for those who may have been exposed.
* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.