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STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES |
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General Information Mumps
recommendation |
DATE: May 15, 2006
TO: All CSUB Students
FROM: Oscar W. Rico, M.D. Director, Student Health Services
SUBJECT: Immunization Recommendations for Mumps (MMR vaccination) As you may be aware, the Midwest has been experiencing a large outbreak of mumps cases. The majority of cases have been in Iowa among persons 18-25 years of age with additional cases in at least 8 neighboring states. Many of the infected were previously vaccinated against mumps. Though we have not experienced any suspected or confirmed cases on our campus, CSUB Student Health Services continues to monitor information from local and national health organizations, and recommends that all students check their immunization records to ensure that they have received the appropriate vaccinations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently states that the outbreak may have begun on a college campus in Iowa. Colleges have group living, dining, learning, studying and social areas that make disease transmission more likely, and increase the chance of outbreaks. Therefore undergraduate and graduate students, in colleges and universities may be at increased risk of acquiring mumps. The effectiveness of MMR against mumps is approximately 80% after one dose and approximately 90% after two doses. Therefore, the CDC, American College Health Association (ACHA) and the Kern County Department of Public Health recommend that all college students receive two doses of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine or provide other evidence of mumps immunity (physician diagnosis or laboratory evidence). Currently, the CSU only requires one dose of MMR. Mumps is an infection caused by the mumps virus. Anyone who is not immune from either vaccination or previous mumps infection can get mumps. Transmission of the mumps virus occurs by direct contact with saliva or respiratory droplets through coughing and sneezing of an infected person. If symptoms develop (generally 16-18 days after exposure), the person should not go to school or work for at least 9 days and should contact their medical provider. The most common symptoms of mumps are fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness and loss of appetite followed by the onset of swollen glands under the ears, on one or both sides. Severe complications from mumps are rare. However, mumps can cause deafness, meningitis, inflammation of the testicles, inflammation of the ovaries and/or breasts, and miscarriages in pregnant women. For more information about mumps or to get the vaccination, visit the CSUB Student Health Services or call us at (661) 654-2394. You can access more information at the Health Services website at www.csub.edu/healthcenter or you also can visit the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov/nip/diseases/mumps . |