Mumps Outbreak Affecting Area University Law School: OC Health

LAKE FOREST, CA — The cases of mumps in Chapman University students has risen to six, with another six probably infected, the Orange County Health Care Agency it was reported on Thursday.

As of March 28, the number of cases stood at four with three probable cases.

Several of the affected students are in Chapman's law school, according to the Orange County Health Care Agency.

The outbreak appears to have started Jan. 26, the HCA reported.

The outbreak correlates with other eruptions in mumps cases at college campuses around the country over the past several years.

Many of the affected students were fully vaccinated, which is consistent with other college outbreaks nationally, according to the HCA. Getting vaccinated lowers the risk of mumps substantially, but doesn't eliminate it, she said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the two doses of MMR recommended by doctors -- one at 12 to 15 months and a second at 4 to 6 years old -- prevents mumps 88 percent of the time, according to the agency.

The "most characteristic symptom" of mumps is "parotid swelling," an inflammation of the neck and jaw area, the agency said.

Other symptoms include muscle ache, loss of appetite, malaise, headache or fever.

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