Meghan Beretta, a sophomore from Passaic County, N.J., said someone in her history class came down with the virus, but it was shortly before spring break, so she didn't expect to have a high risk of exposure.

"I've been pretty healthy," Beretta said.

There is some worry among students trying to avoid a bout of illness — "It's been the subject of jokes when anybody has a cold or anything," said John Kelley, a sophomore from Fairfax, Va.

"But it doesn't pose a lot of concerns for me in my day-to-day life," Kelley said.

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Mumps

Cause: Viral infection

Symptoms: Swelling and tenderness of salivary and other glands, testicles, ovaries; low-grade fever; headache; loss of appetite

Incubation period: 16-18 days

Transmission: Spread via coughing, other contact with saliva or other mouth, nose and throat fluids

Prevention: MMR vaccine series considered 90 percent effective; isolation used to prevent spread of virus