STUDENTS have been warned to be on the look-out for signs of mumps after several colleges reported cases of the infection. 

According to the Cherwell student newspaper, Corpus Christi, Brasenose, Lady Margaret Hall, University, Oriel, Hertford, and Queen’s have all had students catch the illness in recent weeks. 

Emails have been sent out warning people about the symptons of mumps including painful swellings at the side of the face under the ears, headaches, joint pain and a high temperature.

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It comes as students are sitting their exams and those who have the illness have been told not to attend lectures for five days in order to stop it spreading. 

The virus is transmitted through coughing and sneezing and the colleges are having to quarantine people affected and take them meals to their rooms. 

Many will have been vaccinated against Mumps as part of the MMR vaccine in childhood but experts have warned the 'forgotten disease' is coming back with a sharp increase in the number of cases over the last year. 

Anyone who thinks they might have the infection has been told to contact their GP.