New cases of mumps at IU concerning students
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH)- Indiana University in Bloomington is dealing with another mumps outbreak on campus as three more students became infected with the virus over the weekend.
This brings the total cases of students with mumps to six since February.
IU officials are taking this very seriously and urge any student that shows symptoms to go to the campus health center.
The school, in coordination with the Monroe County Health Department, is also offering free MMR doses to those who came in close contact with people infected with the virus.
Students said they are concerned about the most recent mumps outbreak on campus.
“It makes me feel scared for the students that have not got their vaccines and the ones who are exposed to that, that could cause a lot of health risks,” said Jessica Wyatt, a senior at IU Bloomington.
With six cases of mumps reported in the past two months, some students fear the problem is only getting worse.
“It’s insane,” said Jenny Dey, IU Bloomington senior. “I can’t believe there are already that many people that have already contracted mumps.”
One of the students infected with the virus since February is an international student. The rest of the students infected are from the states.
Another student infected with the virus lives in a fraternity house on campus.
The virus being found in close quarters has students on alert.
“Like the classrooms and cafeteria, it makes me a bit uncomfortable,” said IU freshman, Paige Imburgia.
According to the CDC, symptoms of mumps include: fever, headache, muscle ache, tiredness, loss of appetite, puffy cheeks and a tender, swollen jaw.
IU Bloomington spokesperson Chuck Carney said the university had another outbreak similar to this a few years ago. But he said this one is a bit more concerning.
“I believe all of them (the students) have had the MMR, so it’s not impossible to get it, if you’ve had it(the vaccine),” said Carney.
Carney said the university requires proof of the MMR vaccine by the second semester of the student’s freshman year, or the second semester from when the student started school.
Carney said the university is doing all that it can to prevent the outbreak from getting worse.
“Close contacts have been provided access to a free MMR vaccine just so they can have an extra boost of immunity when this disease is communicable,” explained Carney.
Mumps is spread through close contact with someone infected, such as sneezing, coughing, or eating or drinking after someone.
Right now, IU says it is not holding a campus wide MMR vaccine clinic. However the school will do that if the outbreak gets any worse.