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Monday, March 18
The Indiana Daily Student

student life

17th mumps case confirmed at IU

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The 17th case of the mumps was confirmed on IU-Bloomington’s campus this morning, IU spokesman Chuck Carney said. The first mumps case on campus was confirmed Feb. 21.

Carney said it is unknown whether the new case is affiliated with the fraternity that nine of the other cases are affiliated with. The fraternity’s name is not being released by the school for privacy purposes.

The school has been in communication with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Monroe County Health Department about the mumps cases, Carney said. They do not think a campus clinic that would offer booster shots is necessary at this time.

“It’s in the campus community, but it’s not widespread,” Carney said. “We do feel like we have a good handle on the number right now.”

Carney said the school expects a few more confirmed cases. He said three to four people are getting tested for mumps every day at the IU Health Center.

Dr. Beth Rupp, IU Health Center medical director said only students who have been in close contact with mumps patients are advised to get a third Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine.

The CDC recommends children get two MMR vaccines: one when they are between 12 to 15 months old and and one when they are 4 to 6 years old. Two doses of MMR vaccine is 88% effective against mumps according to the CDC. Rupp said all students should verify they have gotten these shots and receive them as soon as possible if they have not.

Carney said 14 of the 17 students with confirmed cases had required vaccinations, one had one of the two vaccinations and one was religiously exempt from the requirement and had received no MMR vaccination. Carney did not know the 17th student’s vaccine records.

Carney said the county health department visited the mumps-affiliated fraternity April 4 to offer free MMR shots for anyone who lived in the house or frequently was at the house.

Rupp urges students to practice healthy habits such as not sharing drinks, food or utensils, washing hands frequently and avoiding sick individuals.

“We’re going to continue to monitor and see where this goes,” Carney said.

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