Mar 07, 2014 12:22 PM EST By Jaleesa Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

Ohio State University announced Thursday that nine students on its campus have contracted mumps and they suspect two more cases, WBNS-10TV reported.

Public health officials are investigating the suspected cases and are trying to determine how the contagious infection has been spread at the school.

Mumps is a contagious, viral disease that leads to painful swelling of the salivary glands. It can cause fever. Headaches, muscle aches, fatigue and loss of appetite. Typically mumps patients are contagious for two days prior to the outbreak of symptoms and five days after.

"That's definitely scary because you don't hear about mumps a lot," student Ali Read told WBNS-10TV.

Five female students have come down with the mumps, and four male students have reported cases. The ages of those infected range from 19 to 22.

Mysheika Roberts, medical director for Columbus Public Health, told the Associated Press that the department is working to find out whether there is a connection between the cases. She added that officials are in the early stages of their investigation and are interviewing students.

The infected students have been told to stay isolated from others, Roberts said.

The contagious disease is spread from person to person through contact with respiratory secretions, such as saliva and sneeze droplets from an infected person.

Vaccination against the mumps does not offer 100 percent protection, however it is still strongly recommended.

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