In light of recent reports of 15 confirmed mumps cases on the Southeast Missouri State University campus, The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has updated its recommendation and is encouraging all Southeast Missouri State University students to consider getting a third dose of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine in response to continued confirmed and suspected cases of Mumps at the school.

Because the majority of those cases are within the fraternity and sorority community, the Cape Girardeau Public Health Center, with assistance from the Campus Health Clinic, will host a vaccination clinic for all members of the Greek Community – including those living on- and off-campus — from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, March, 7 in the Towers Complex, second floor. This vaccination clinic is specifically for members of Southeast’s Greek community, who health officials say have the greatest known risk factors and where the confirmed Mumps case are most concentrated.

Students who are not members of a fraternity or sorority, can get a third MMR dose by visiting the Campus Health Clinic from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, March 9, and Friday, March 10, when additional staff will be present to assist with vaccinations. Students who are not part of the Greek community have a lower risk of contracting Mumps based upon currently confirmed and suspected cases.

The reports at Southeast come on the heels of a mumps outbreak on the campus of the University of Missouri-Columbia reported this past fall. At the University of Missouri-Columbia, 350 confirmed and probable cases of mumps have been reported as of February 23, 2017. According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the majority of cases continue to be reported among university students and 14 other colleges and universities across the State of Missouri have reported confirmed or suspected cases of mumps since August 2016.

Related: 

Mumps/CDC
Mumps/CDC