Penn State health officials report 3 possible cases of mumps on campus

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (WPVI) -- Officials have reported three cases of the mumps on Penn State's campus.

Health officials are waiting for tests to confirm the diagnosis, but in the meantime they want to get the word out to protect others.

Penn State says students with the potential cases don't live in the dorms.

Still, the school wants all students to make sure their vaccinations for mumps, measles, and rubella are up-to-date.

Mumps is a highly contagious virus.

It spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or through using the same eating utensils.

Several colleges, including the University of Virginia, had outbreaks last winter.

And nearly two dozen players in the NHL came down with it.

The symptoms include headaches, fever, cold-like symptoms and swelling of the jaw and neck.