Mumps cases reach beyond Columbus

Health officials monitoring a central Ohio mumps outbreak say the viral illness has affected people from five counties.

Seventy of the 87 confirmed cases reported Thursday are linked to Ohio State University. Fifty-eight are students, and seven are staff.

Those infected range in age from 4 to 58. The cases span from January to this week.

Most of those infected are from Columbus. A few are from elsewhere in surrounding Franklin County. Individual cases were reported involving people from Hamilton, Fairfield, Licking and Union counties.

Delaware County says it is investigating six suspected cases of mumps.

Mumps often starts with fever, fatigue and body aches. Those infected are urged to stay home for a few days, cover their mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing, and frequently wash their hands.