As we all are aware, there is now a third wave of the mumps outbreak rapidly and unapologetically making its way through Temple University's campus. The mumps is a viral infection affecting the salivary glands, and when contracted there is a 12-25 day incubation period before experiencing flu-like symptoms and swelling of the face.

This disease can be spread any way from kissing, sharing drinks, airborne through coughs or sneezes, and even touching an infected doorknob, blanket, gym equipment, etc. There is no cure for the mumps, so the best thing you can do is take Tylenol for swelling and stay quarantined for the two-week span it takes to run its course.

With the first case being reported just before spring break, and 54 cases the beginning of last week, the number of cases has skyrocketed up to the latest count of 105. It has been estimated that at least five new cases will be presented daily but given the number of cases doubling in one week who knows where this might go.

With these daunting numbers, you have to ask yourself: what is Temple doing to control this epidemic?

The awakening of this long dormant disease is nothing to take lightly. I was under the general impression that it was only affecting those who had not been vaccinated as a child, but as the numbers increased and previously vaccinated students started becoming infected, it became apparent that nobody is truly safe.

As a result of this outbreak, local pharmacies have stepped up to provide a third booster shot but this is not nearly enough to solve the issue. Upon receiving the shot, I was very skeptical, as it is a live weakened version of the virus. I asked if I would be completely protected and if the shot would cause symptoms, and I was told as long as I hadn't come in contact with the disease already I would be fine.

So, of course, I was relieved and responded, "oh good I didn't," but that comfort quickly went away when she snapped back "you don't know that." This has led to nothing but increased fear of the infection rather than settling my mind.

Anxiety around the disease may be one of the biggest concerns. It has instilled fear in me and many other students around campus, the second I even hear a student cough in a lecture hall I immediately get worried about mumps and that becomes all I can think about. You can imagine this fear is greater for those who are not in good health normally, like people suffering from autoimmune diseases or pregnant women.

Those who are immunocompromised are at greater risk, as they can't receive the booster shot. In fact, the mumps booster is among the top shots they cannot get as their bodies cannot fight off the live cultures in it. Pregnant women cannot receive the shots either, but equally, risk a miscarriage if the disease is contracted. People falling under both these categories are among the demographic of Temple students.

Earlier this week I reached out to the president of Temple University expressing my concerns and was shocked to get a response that explained it only seems so bad because there is so much unknown discussion around the topic, and that it is actually just like the flu.

The symptoms do resemble the flu, but the side effects and possible reactions range far wider. People with mumps can experience swelling of testicles in men, swelling of ovaries, mastitis, orchitis, oophoritis, meningitis, encephalitis, pancreatitis, and in serious cases, swelling of the brain and or permanent deafness. These are not common things that accompany the flu.

The matter just doesn't seem like it has the students' best interests at hand. There have been multiple tours still going through campus as if you can't contract it simply through touching a door handle and even jokes about it in student health services building where vaccine administrators are wearing pins that read "Got Mumps" with a Temple T accompanying it.

Temple has made it very clear they do not believe it is necessary to close the school, as sending students home can spread the disease further and keeping students here without class wouldn't stop the spread of it, but it could actually be an advantage and hopefully stop it from spreading as rapidly.

But, continuing to hold classes where students feel pressure to attend them in fear of their grades slipping only creates a place to easily contract it. Canceling classes for a week can allow for things to settle and students already affected might become aware of the infection and interactions would be limited to personal rather than not knowing who you are coming in contact.

Public buildings could be cleaned and disinfected, and the issue may have a better chance of at least not multiplying at such a high rate. A petition went around with nearly 10,000 signatures before it got deactivated, and that alone should express enough concern for the well-being of Temple's students.

We are a student body before we are a business.