As the University of Iowa prepares to welcome students and families for the start of the academic year, the Vice President for Student Life is reminding members of the campus community to make sure they’re up-to-date on their vaccinations. Tom Rocklin reports six UI students have tested positive for mumps in the past few weeks.  

Mumps are generally benign, especially in people who have received two measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines, but the disease is contagious. Cases of the disease have also been reported on other university campuses in the Midwest.

In order to help prepare, the university has alerted area health care professionals including UI Student Health and Wellness, and has provided additional training for resident hall staff and resident assistants. The mumps virus is spread through contact with saliva or mucous from the mouth, nose, or throat. Signs and symptoms include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Jaw pain
• Loss of appetite
• Swelling in the salivary (parotid) glands

The best way to protect yourself and others is to receive two doses of the MMR vaccine.

• People who have received two doses of the MMR vaccine are about nine times less likely to get mumps than unvaccinated people who have the same exposure to mumps virus.
• However, 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.

Practicing good hand hygiene, not sharing drinking or eating utensils, and limiting contact with infected people also helps reduce the spread of the disease.

The period of contagiousness for the disease starts before the jaw swelling and lasts for five days after swelling begins. Students can call the UI Student Health and Wellness Nurseline at 319-335-9704 with questions or concerns.  UI faculty and staff should call their health care provider.

The UI will provide updates as needed on the UI Student Health and Wellness website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also has more general information about mumps, as well as questions and answers about the disease.