Mumps On College Campuses: What To Do As Students Come Home To The Hudson Valley

Mumps, a highly contagious viral disease, has been circulating on many college campuses and in 42 states nationwide. So, as college students return home for the summer, health officials remind families to check their students’ vaccination status and to be aware of the symptoms of mumps, in case their students develop it after they arrive.

Colleges were a prevalent location of outbreaks in 2014, 2015 and 2016, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.

Living, socializing and studying together in dormitories and shared spaces, college students are vulnerable to the spread of mumps and other airborne diseases, even when fully vaccinated.

• In 2015-16, outbreaks were reported from several university campuses, including a number of smaller outbreaks with limited spread. The two largest outbreaks were from Iowa and Illinois, each involving several hundred university students; both held wide-scale vaccination campaigns.
• In 2014, several outbreaks affiliated with universities were reported from multiple states, including one community outbreak in Ohio linked to a university that involved over 400 people.

So far this year, from January through April 22, 42 states have reported mumps infections in 2,570 people, according to the CDC. In all of 2016, there were 5,833 cases reported to the CDC.

When there is an outbreak, it is common to exclude from campus students who are not vaccinated for 25 days after the last possible exposure if they do not get vaccinated. This is done to prevent a larger outbreak.

What to look for:

The mumps usually start with fever, headache and muscle weakness, stiff neck and loss of appetite. The characteristic swelling and tenderness (chipmunk cheeks) of the glands in the cheek or lower jaw follows. If you suspect a family member may have the mumps, consult your physician. Call the doctor’s office to alert them before going in because mumps is highly contagious. People with the mumps should stay home and away from public places and limit contact with others, including household members.

Mumps spreads through saliva or mucus from the mouth, nose or throat when an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes. It can also be spread by sharing cups or eating utensils and by touching objects or surfaces with unwashed hands that are then touched by others. Symptoms usually disappear in a few weeks. There is no treatment for mumps, but ibuprofen or acetaminophen can relieve pain.

To prevent mumps from spreading:

• Do not share food, drinks, utensils or other personal items that may contain saliva.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand rub if soap and water are not available
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue if you sneeze or cough, and discard the tissue after you use it. If a tissue is not available, sneeze or cough into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands.
• Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that may be contaminated with germs.

Vaccinate

“MMR vaccine offers the best protection from mumps, and with this disease circulating on campuses, it’s especially important to be sure your student is vaccinated,” said Westchester Health Commissioner Sherlita Amler, MD. “Vaccination can prevent the spread of illness and help your student avoid missing class in the event of an outbreak.”

Two doses of MMR vaccine are recommended for children; the first at ages 12-to-15 months and the second at ages four to six years old. With both doses, the vaccine is 88 percent effective against mumps and reduces the severity of symptoms in those who do get the disease. However, some people who are fully vaccinated have developed mumps following an exposure.

“To protect your students and family from mumps and other infectious diseases, now is a good time to catch up on any needed immunizations,” said Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino. “Our county health department can help.”

Any college student of any age, regardless of insurance status, can receive MMR vaccine, which covers measles, mumps and rubella, at the Westchester health department’s immunization clinics in White Plains or Yonkers. Uninsured and underinsured adults 19 and older for whom vaccines are not covered by insurance are eligible to receive other vaccines, too. Call 914-995-5800 for an appointment.

MAP/ Centers for Disease Control