HOBOKEN — For some people, the closest they’ve ever come to the mumps is watching the “Brady Bunch” episode from 1973 when Bobby worried he might have them. But despite vaccinations, outbreaks do occur, particularly on college campuses where people are living close to each other.
Now, cases have been confirmed at the Stevens Institute of Technology, a university on the Hoboken waterfront. Stevens said on Thursday that the students who had it had been vaccinated.
The city of Hoboken released the following statement on Thursday:
Health officials today confirmed several cases of mumps on the campus of the Stevens Institute of Technology. The cases were first identified as suspected cases last week, and there have been no reports of new cases since last week.
“The city’s Health Department has been working closely with Stevens since the beginning and we are thankful for their responsiveness and proactive efforts,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “Every precaution has been taken to ensure the safety of the public. The best way to prevent mumps is vaccination. Members of our community should follow the recommendations from health officials and contact their doctor if they believe they may have symptoms. We will keep the community informed of any new developments.”
The New Jersey Department of Health has created a flyer of Frequently Asked Questions regarding mumps: www.state.nj.us/health/cd/documents/mumps/mumps_public_faq_04172014.pdf. Additional information and resources can be found at the NJ Department of Health website: www.state.nj.us/health/cd/mumps/.Stevens Institute of Technology issued the following statement with additional information:
“The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH), in conjunction with the Hoboken Health Department, Stevens Institute of Technology, and additional local, county, and state health departments, is investigating eight cases of confirmed mumps found in students at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ. Stevens has been working closely with the New Jersey State Department of Health from the onset and is following all of its recommendations in treating the cases…
Cases were found in students ranging in age from 18 to 21 years and all were fully vaccinated with two documented doses of mumps-containing vaccine. Outbreaks of mumps have occurred in vaccinated populations before including other colleges and universities such as Ohio State University and Fordham University in New York City. All Stevens’ students are required to have full vaccinations before attending the University, including the vaccination for mumps, measles and rubella (MMR). Faculty and staff members who are unsure of their immunization status have been advised to contact a health care provider.
“Stevens is encouraging students and staff, or anyone who may have recently visited the campus or had close contact with a Stevens Institute of Technology student/staff member to visit their healthcare provider if they are exhibiting the following symptoms: swollen and tender salivary glands under the ears or jaw on one or both sides of the face, fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite.
“Mumps is a disease reportable within 24 hours as per N.J.A.C. 8:57, which can be accessed at: http://nj.gov/health/cd/reporting.shtml”
For more information about mumps, please visit:
CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/mumps
http://www.cdc.gov/mumps/outbreaks.html