By NewsDesk  @bactiman63

The University of Connecticut (UConn) Student Health and Wellness announced that three cases of mumps were identified in students that were enrolled on the Storrs campus in the fall 2019 semester.

Mumps virus/CDC

Students are required to have received two doses of the MMR vaccine, which provides protection against the mumps virus to attend classes. School records indicate 98% of undergraduate students are fully vaccinated, however, even those who received two doses of vaccine can become infected. University students are particularly susceptible to the mumps virus, especially if they are in frequent contact with other students in the residence halls, sports teams, or activity groups.

A third dose of the MMR vaccine is recommended for students determined to be at higher risk for developing mumps. UConn Student Health and Wellness will be reaching out to students who are deemed as being high risk based on their potential contact with other infected students. For students who are not at high risk, a third dose is not necessary at this time.

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Mumps is a viral infection that is spread through infected respiratory droplets, like sneezing or coughing.  The infection is not usually dangerous, but can be painful.  Typical signs and symptoms of mumps are swelling of the face/cheek/jaw (parotitis), jaw pain, headache, and/or low grade fever.  Treatment is focused on symptom management. Complications are rare but can be serious.

Nationally, through Dec. 6, 48 states and the District of Columbia in the U.S. reported mumps infections in 3,252 people to CDC.