Mumps Alert
April 8, 2008 — There has been a confirmed case of mumps at VCU. VCU Student Health is working closely with local health departments and VCU Health System Epidemiology to contain the spread of any cases that may occur.
Why are we worried about mumps now?
There have been periodic mumps outbreaks in the US within the last couple of years affecting mainly college-age students. Transmission can occur in college students for reasons that may include social interactions, living environment and local and interstate travel. Another factor that can make outbreaks hard to contain is that people who have mumps can be contagious to others for approximately three days before developing symptoms.
Complications of mumps can include inflammation of the testicles, inflammation of the ovaries and/or breast, viral meningitis, encephalitis, miscarriage, and deafness.
Mumps disease may result in class absence during acute illness and the time after a student develops disease when they may spread disease to other students.
How can mumps disease be prevented?
On June 1, 2006, the Centers for Disease Control issued updated recommendations for the prevention of mumps disease for people who have never had the disease. Those recommendations included documentation of two doses of a mumps vaccine (usually given as the combined MMR vaccine) for students attending universities, or other evidence of immunity (laboratory evidence of immunity through a blood test).
What do I do if I have not had two doses of mumps vaccine?
If you have had only one dose of mumps containing vaccine in the past, you should receive another dose. If you have never been vaccinated against mumps, you should receive two doses of vaccine (one month between each dose).
Students who do not have proof of vaccination may risk exclusion from classes as directed by health officials in a mumps outbreak situation.
Please note — Two doses of mumps containing vaccine is 90% effective in preventing mumps disease. Because the vaccine is not 100% effective, some cases can occur in vaccinated persons.
Where can I go to receive vaccinations?
For students, vaccine is available from your private physician, local health department, and University Student Health Services during immunization clinic hours.
How do I learn more about mumps?
Further mumps information is available from:
