IU Health Center officials are making the following recommendations and observations for students, faculty and staff throughout the IU system, based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College Health Association:

People born before 1957 are considered immune to mumps because exposure to the disease was common when they were young.

Those born during or after 1957 should check to see if they have had two MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) immunizations or have had mumps.

If you have not been immunized with two doses of MMR and have not had mumps, it is recommended that you contact your health care practitioner for appropriate immunization. A third dose is not recommended.

The vaccine is not 100 percent effective, so some cases might occur in people who have been vaccinated. The effectiveness of the MMR vaccine is 80 percent after one dose and 90 percent after the second dose.

To view a CDC health advisory, visit http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/HAN/ArchiveSys/ViewMsgV.asp?AlertNum=00243

Mumps is a viral infection that primarily affects the parotid glands located below and in front of the ears. The infection can cause swelling in one or both glands, pain with chewing and swallowing, fever, weakness and fatigue. Symptoms typically appear two to three weeks after exposure, but roughly 20 percent of people infected show no symptoms. The virus spreads through coughing and sneezing. People with mumps are contagious for about a week before and two weeks after the onset of symptoms, which occurs generally two to three weeks after exposure to the virus. Complications are rare but can include hearing loss, meningitis and swollen testicles.

If you have concerns please contact your primary care provider or the Health and Wellness Center @ 520-5557.

Patti Nietch, MSN, APRN, BC FNP

Lecturer/Director Health and Wellness Center

Indiana University South Bend

IUHEALTH@iusb.edu

pnietch@iusb.edu

Health and Wellness 574-520-5557

fax 574-520-5042