In a letter to the University of Dayton campus community, President Daniel J. Curran writes that Wednesday that the school has confirmed a total of nine cases of mumps on campus.
“We strongly encourage you to take these steps to help prevent the spread of mumps or other illnesses as we enter finals week”:
If you have not been vaccinated, get two doses of the MMR vaccine. The University Student Health Center will provide free MMR vaccines for students 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., weekdays by appointment only until May 6. Public Health-Dayton and Montgomery County will provide vaccines for students, faculty and staff (free with most insurance and financial assistance is available) from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday, April 29, at the RecPlex.
If you cannot receive the MMR vaccine for medical reasons, we urge you to monitor yourself for symptoms — swelling of the salivary glands or lymph nodes in the neck, or fever, headaches, muscle aches, fatigue or loss of appetite — and avoid anyone with symptoms for 12-25 days (the incubation period for mumps). You are not prohibited from going to class, taking exams or attending graduation, but we strongly recommend you check with your physician about specific precautions and limit your exposure to people.
Students suspecting they have mumps or symptoms should call the Student Health Center (9-3131). Faculty and staff suspecting they have mumps or symptoms should call their doctor for an appointment for evaluation. Anyone suspecting they have mumps or symptoms should isolate themselves for five days. University of Dayton Housing and Residence Life (9-3317) will help make arrangements for students.
Mumps is an airborne virus, for which you can only treat the symptoms. Symptoms should disappear in a week, but be aware the incubation period for mumps is 12-25 days, and you can be contagious a few days before seeing symptoms. We want to stress the chance of acquiring mumps is low for anyone immunized against the disease.
All incoming students born after 1956 are required to have received two MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccines. Anyone refusing the vaccination for a non-medical reason can reduce their risk of illness by receiving the vaccine.
Related:
