WSU advises students to update vaccinations over holiday

PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University is advising students to ensure their measles, mumps and rubella vaccinations are up to date before returning to Pullman after Thanksgiving break. Students who still need the MMR vaccine can contact WSU Health and Wellness Services (509-335-3575), their regular health care provider, or their local public health department.

The advisory is in response to a recent outbreak of mumps at the neighboring University of Idaho, where ten cases of mumps have been confirmed and another 20 reports of the mumps are under investigation, said Bruce Wright, executive director of WSU Health and Wellness Services. No recent cases of mumps have been reported to date in Pullman or Whitman County.

“The most effective way to prevent mumps is to ensure that one has been properly vaccinated with the MMR (measles/mumps/rubella) vaccine,” Wright said.

“Individuals without documentation of immunity to mumps, either through vaccination or documented previous infection with mumps, should receive two doses of the MMR vaccine 28 days apart. Individuals who have previously had only one dose of the vaccine should receive a second dose,” he said.

Although mumps outbreaks are uncommon, they do still happen in crowded environments such as college campuses with students attending classes, eating, and living closely together.

Mumps is a contagious viral illness that spreads from person to person via droplets of saliva or mucous from the mouth, nose or throat of an infected person; spread is commonly associated with coughing, sneezing or talking. The virus can also be spread when an infected person touches surfaces without washing their hands and another person touches that same surface, then touches their eyes, mouth, or nose. An infected person does not need to be demonstrating symptoms to spread the virus.

Symptoms can occur up 25 days after exposure and can include fever, muscle aches, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Swollen, tender, or painful salivary glands under the ear on one or both sides of the head are also common with mumps.

Complications of mumps infection can also include testicular inflammation, and infrequently, meningitis, encephalitis (infection of the brain), infection of the ovaries, and deafness. Individuals with symptoms of mumps should contact their health care provider. It is recommended that persons with symptoms call ahead of visiting their health care provider so that contact with others can be minimized to reduce spread of the virus.

Anyone infected with mumps should stay home for five days after symptoms begin, avoid close contact with others, wash their hands frequently with soap and water, cover their mouth when they cough or sneeze, avoid sharing drinks or eating utensils, and frequently clean surfaces that they come into contact with.

For more information about mumps: http://www.cdc.gov/mumps/

For more information about the MMR vaccine: http://www.cdc.gov/mumps/vaccination.html

Contact:

Dr. Bruce Wright, Executive Director, WSU Health and Wellness Services, 509-335-3575, wrightbr@wsu.edu