In a follow-up on the mumps situation at the University of Florida (UF) in Gaineville, the student-owned newspaper, Alligator reports UF spokesperson Steve Orlando as saying 24 vaccinated students are confirmed with having mumps.

The campus typically sees one or two cases each year.

Some people who receive two doses of MMR can still get mumps, especially if they have prolonged, close contact with someone who has the disease. If a vaccinated person does get mumps, they will likely have less severe illness than an unvaccinated person.

A 3rd MMR vaccination is recommended for students who are directly exposed to someone infected with mumps. If you have been exposed to saliva of a student diagnosed with mumps or are in prolonged contact such as sleeping in the same room with the infected student, you are considered at high risk and a 3rd MMR vaccination is recommended.

Additionally, anyone who is immunocompromised and is in the area of an outbreak may be advised by their medical provider to get a 3rd MMR even if they do not know of any direct contact with a person infected with mumps.

Interim Director of UF Student Health Care Center, Ronald Berry, M.D. said in a news release: Most UF students already have done the most important preventive measure by getting the MMR vaccinations. These are required vaccinations to be a UF student with a few exceptions.

School officials recommend that students limit exposure to mumps by taking the following preventative actions in their daily routines:

  • Avoid exposure to possibly infected saliva: DON’T share drinks, food, (including cups, water bottles, utensils) and avoid saliva exposure through kissing.
  • Wash hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water.
  • Cover coughs and sneezes (using a tissue or elbow method).
  • Clean and disinfect shared surfaces (keyboards, desks, dining tables).

The Student Health Care Center is currently providing treatment to all UF students testing positive for mumps.

If you are Gainesville and are in one of the 2 groups where a 3rd MMR is recommended then you may call the SHCC at 352-392-1161 (or directly to your SHCC Team, if known) and ask for an appointment to see a provider. Our Special Clinics Immunization Clinic cannot give a 3rd MMR without an order from a medical provider (since this is not a routinely recommended vaccination).

Statewide, the Florida Department of Health reports 40 mumps cases in 9 counties from Jan. 1 through May 31.

Nationally, from January 1 to May 24, 2019, 42 states and the District of Columbia in the U.S. reported mumps infections in 1,002 people to CDC.