Health officials have confirmed one mumps case at Nova High School in the Central District.

The Public Health Department of Seattle & King County announced last week that a student was diagnosed with the illness. No other cases have been confirmed in Seattle Public Schools.

According to a the joint announcement from Seattle Public Schools and King County Health, officials believe the case is linked to an ongoing mumps outbreak in the Auburn School District. Seattle Public Schools is monitoring the situation with health officials.

In 2015, reports showed more than 10% of Nova High School’s population opted out of vaccinations, making it one of many area schools to break “herd immunity” model — The Seattle Times reported:

At least 86 schools in King and Snohomish counties have a vaccine exemption rate of 10 percent or higher, an analysis of Department of Health data shows. Typically, 90 percent of a population must be vaccinated for highly contagious diseases to achieve “herd immunity” — the point where enough people are immunized to protect those most vulnerable to infection.

Mumps symptoms include fever, headache, swelling in the cheeks and jaw; it is most easily spread 48 hours before symptoms begin. “In rare cases, mumps can lead to more serious complications that may require hospitalization,” officials said.

Mumps is spread by coughing, sneezing and talking and sharing cups and utensils and touching surfaces with unwashed hands. According to the Public Health website, “immunization is the best way to prevent mumps.” The MMR vaccine protects against mumps as well as measles and rubella.

In 2007, 53 cases of mumps were reported in Washington state. Since then, between zero and 14 cases have been reported each year. In 2015 there were two probable cases — those with mumps-like illness who received laboratory testing — and two suspect cases where the illness was present but no diagnostic testing was completed.

If additional cases emerge this year, the county could recommend that unvaccinated children be excluded from school. Parents with children who do not have two doses of the MMR vaccine or are unsure of their children’s statuses are urged to contact health care providers.

Infants who are too young to be vaccinated, children who have not had at least one dose of the MMR vaccine and adults born after 1957 who have not been vaccinated or had mumps are at risk of contracting the virus.

The Nova “alternative high school” had been located on 19th Ave’s Meany Campus but moved back to the Horace Mann building on E Cherry to make way for construction of the district’s new middle school slated to open later this year.

Seattle Public Schools students have been out on holiday break and are slated to return to classes Tuesday.