By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews
In a follow-up on the mumps outbreak at Louisiana State University (LSU), the Student Health Center has confirmed twelve student cases of mumps as of Feb. 12.
According to the student newspaper, Reveille, 11 of the 12 students with mumps live off campus. The one student who lives on campus lives alone in an on-campus apartment and is following the public health quarantine.
Proof of immunity to mumps or two doses of the MMR vaccine is currently required for all students at the University. Most students on campus should be protected due to the vaccine, according to the Student Health Center.
All 12 students with mumps were in compliance with the University’s MMR vaccination requirements, according to LSU Media Relations Director Ernie Ballard.
Mumps is a contagious disease that is caused by a virus. It typically starts with a few days of fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite. Then most people will have swelling of their salivary glands. This is what causes the puffy cheeks and a tender, swollen jaw.
The CDC says the MMR vaccine is safe and effective. A person with two doses of MMR vaccine has about an 88% reduction in risk for mumps; a person with one dose has a 78% reduction in risk for mumps.
In 2019, approximately 3,500 cases were reported in the US.
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