There is a suspected case of mumps at Washington and Lee
University. The student who is ill has been isolated, and close
contacts will be notified if there is concern about possible mumps
exposure. Having received two doses of MMR vaccine is a requirement
for enrollment at W&L. All students for whom we do not have
complete documentation of two doses of MMR vaccine have already been
contacted about the need for this information. If you have received
such notification please contact the Student Health Center
immediately to complete this documentation or for referral to the
Health Department for a dose of MMR vaccine.
If you have had two doses of MMR vaccine, the risk that you might
become ill from mumps exposure is small--about 2-5% of people who
have had two doses of vaccine may still be susceptible. Anyone born
before 1957 is presumed to have had childhood exposure and natural
immunity to mumps. Anyone in the University community born in 1957
or later should make sure that they have either had mumps, or have
received two doses of MMR vaccine. MMR vaccination is available
through the Lexington-Rockbridge Health Department if booster doses
are needed.
The incubation period after mumps exposure until the onset of
illness is usually 16-18 days, but may be as long as 3 weeks. If
you have been exposed to mumps you should avoid sharing food and
drinks, kissing, or other such close contact with others until 3
weeks have passed. Adequate sleep, a healthy diet, and frequent
hand washing, especially before you eat or touch your face, may help
reduce your risk of illness.
You should seek medical attention immediately if you experience
symptoms suggestive of mumps. These include fever, headache, muscle
aches, fatigue, and loss of appetite with pain and swelling of the
salivary glands. The parotid salivary glands (which are located
within your cheek, near your jaw line and in front of/below your
ears) are most frequently affected. This often gives a chipmunk
cheek appearance. Mumps may also involve the salivary glands under
your chin and cause pain and swelling there. Students should come
to the Student Health Center immediately if they develop any of
these symptoms.
If you have questions about this information, please contact the
Office of the Dean of Students at 458-8754.
Thank you,
Jane Horton, M.D.
Director, Student Health and Counseling Services
Dawn Watkins, Ph.D.
Dean of Students
October 7, 2006: W&L health center releases campus notice warning students of mumps outbreak in neighboring areas
There have been outbreaks of mumps on several college campuses in the
past year. There are currently suspected cases of mumps at both UVA
and Virginia Tech. Mumps is a viral illness that can be transmitted
easily from person to person. Because of contact between our
campuses we feel it is prudent to notify and educate the W&L
community about this illness at this time. All Washington and Lee
students are required to be immunized for the mumps, and any student
without documentation of two doses of MMR vaccine has already been
contacted by the Student Health Center to update their protection
against this illness.
All other members of the University community are strongly encouraged
to review their own medical histories to ensure immunizations are
complete. Those born before 1957 are presumed to have had mumps as a
child and to be protected by immunity from past infection. All
others should have had two doses of MMR vaccine for protection.
About 2 to 5% of persons who have had both doses of MMR may still be
susceptible to mumps. Experts believe that attempts to reach all
members of a community and to assure vaccinations reduces the spread
of the illness and minimize the risk of contracting it.
In addition to vaccination, other prevention measures for reducing
transmission include frequent hand washing, using alcohol-based hand
sanitizers, covering coughs and sneezes, and avoiding the sharing of
glasses and utensils. The mumps virus lives in the upper respiratory
tract and is spread through close contact with respiratory secretions
or saliva of an infected person (usually within 3 feet). The
infected person can transmit mumps to an uninfected person from 3
days before symptoms appear to about 9 days after symptoms begin.
The incubation time, between when a person is exposed to the virus to
the onset of symptoms, is usually between 16 to 18 days.
You are encouraged to seek medical attention as soon as you
experience any symptoms suggestive of mumps. These include fever,
headache, muscle aches, fatigue, and loss of appetite; followed by
swelling of salivary glands. The parotid salivary glands (which are
located within your cheek, near your jaw line and below your ears)
are most frequently affected. This gives a chipmunk cheek
appearance. Severe complications are rare, but mumps can spread and
cause inflammation in other tissues of the body with serious
consequences. Currently there is no specific treatment for mumps, so
prevention is important.
Jane T. Horton, MD
Student Health Center
Produced by Washington and Lee journalism students.
Lead supervisor: Prof. Claudette Artwick
Reporting supervisors:
Technical supervisor: Michael Todd