COHASSET, MASS. (WHDH) - The Massachusetts Department of Public Health launched an investigation after a case of the mumps was confirmed at the Osgood Elementary School in Cohasset last week.
Officials have not said if a student or staff member was diagnosed with the contagious disease but a Cohasset Health Department spokesperson confirmed the case.
The patient was present at the school and infectious late last week, according to a letter sent out by school officials.
The virus that causes mumps is spread through saliva or mucus, according to the DPH.
Symptoms most often appear two or three weeks after a person is exposed, and include swelling of the cheeks and jaw, fever, headache stiff neck and loss of appetite.
The DPH says it expects children in most Massachusetts cities and towns to have a high level of protection against the exposure of mumps because that state has the highest rate of MMR vaccination in the country.
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