University of Otago students have been urged to stay home if they feel unwell with fever or cold symptoms, after two cases of mumps were confirmed on the Dunedin campus this week.
Mumps is highly infectious and easily spread, although preventable via vaccination.
"Mumps makes you feel unwell with fever, and other symptoms similar to a common cold, but also causes swollen and painful salivary glands at the side of your face," a Student Health statement said.
"It spreads very easily, so if you think you have it, please stay at home and call Healthline or Student Health."
The MMR vaccination is free for people eligible to be enrolled in the New Zealand healthcare system.
"The university is monitoring the situation closely, along with the Public Health team at the Southern District Health Board," a university spokeswoman said.
The southern region has had sporadic confirmed cases of mumps in recent months, roughly coinciding with an outbreak of measles.
The Queenstown Lakes area began reporting cases of mumps in November and early December. The number of cases increased in the last week of December and through January, SDHB medical officer of health Susan Jack said.
"From December 1 to February 16 we had 35 confirmed cases in the Queenstown Lakes area," Dr Jack said.
"The cases have been in the 18 to 30-year age group, with no cases reported in younger children."
Dr Jack urged anyone who had possibly been in contact with a confirmed mumps case to have an MMR vaccination to help limit the spread of the disease.
"We also remind people that good hand hygiene, cough/sneeze etiquette, avoiding sharing food/drink/utensils, and social distancing can prevent the ongoing transmission of mumps and other infectious diseases."