Several cases of mumps have been confirmed on the campus of William & Mary, according to a message from Vice President for Student Affairs Ginger Ambler and Director of the Student Health Center Virginia Wells this week.
This has prompted student health to remind the campus community to review your immunization status and contact your doctor to receive vaccine as needed. MMR is usually given at age 12 months and again between the ages of 4 to 6 years.
The mumps vaccine is 88% effective in persons having received two doses; therefore, some fully immunized individuals may still develop mumps.
All students infected have been isolated and those known to have had contact with them have been notified.
Mumps is an acute viral disease that is transmitted from person to person through direct contact with respiratory droplets spread by coughing and sneezing, or through contact with saliva from an ill person, such as by sharing drinking cups, cigarettes, e-cigarettes or eating utensils. Persons with mumps may have body aches, fever, and swollen glands in the jaw. Most people recover from the illness in a week, but serious complications are possible.
We want to remind you that people who are exposed to mumps may not show symptoms for 12 to 25 days. Typically, infected individuals can transmit the infection to others two days before symptoms appear. If you develop mumps-like symptoms, first contact your doctor and self-isolate until your doctor directs otherwise (self-isolate means: no class, no work, no gym, no parties, no eating out, and no team practices). If you have questions about whether you are up-to-date with your mumps immunizations, please contact your physician.
