Mumps Cases Reported on Michigan Campus

The University of Michigan announced that 3 students were recently diagnosed with mumps, according to a campus-wide email from Robert Ernst, the executive director of the University Health Service. 

“I want to assure you that we are coordinating with campus partners, Michigan Medicine, and state and county public health authorities to identify, treat and prevent mumps,” Ernst wrote in the email on October 9, 2018.

Mumps is a contagious disease caused by a virus and is transmitted from an infected person through coughing and sneezing, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

The time from being infected with the virus to developing symptoms can be as long as 25 days but is typically within 16-18 days. 

Mumps can be prevented with the Measles-Mumps and Rebella (MMR) vaccine. 

During 2018, various colleges have reported mumps cases:

• Penn State
• TCU
• Texas State
• Cincinnati
• University of Oklahoma
• James Madison
• William & Mary

From January 1 to September 8, 2018, 47 states have reported mumps infections in 1,774 people to the CDC. 

Specifically, mumps outbreaks have been reported during 2018:

• Alaska
• Delaware
• Hawaii
• New York

The mumps vaccine is administered in combination with the measles and rubella vaccines (MMR) in a two-dose series which is 88 percent effective at protecting against mumps, while 1 dose is 78 percent effective, says the CDC. 

But, new research indicates the immunity from the MMR vaccination decreases over time. 

A study from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that vaccine-derived immune protection against mumps persists an average of about 27 years, after the last dose. 

Which means, in addition to the currently recommended 2 doses of mumps vaccine early in life, a 3rd booster shot may help sustain immunization among adults. 

Both the MMR and ProQuad vaccines contain the protection against mumps. 

Most pharmacies offer mumps vaccination services. 

The CDC Vaccine Price List provides private sector vaccine prices for general information. 

Vaccine discounts can be found here. 

Vaccines, like any medicine, can have side effects, says the CDC. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of vaccines to the FDA or CDC.