Student Diagnosed With Mumps At Boston University
BOSTON (CBS) – A case of the mumps has been reported at Boston University.
A letter sent to students says someone in one of the summer classes on July 1 and 2 was infected with the contagious virus. Students are now being asked to confirm that they are up to date on their vaccinations or risk being banned from campus.
The infection has become scarce in recent decades.
We don't see a lot of mumps these days because there's an effective childhood vaccine that prevents it, the MMR or measles, mumps, rubella vaccine. Mumps is caused by a virus that can be passed from person to person like a cold virus - through coughing, sneezing, and sharing glasses and utensils.
You've probably seen photos of people with mumps with swollen salivary glands, like the parotids glands on either side of the face. Patients can also get fever, fatigue, headache, sore throat.
Most people recover in one to two weeks, but some can develop meningitis, swelling of the testicles or ovaries, or even deafness.
If you've received two doses of the MMR vaccine, you should be fine. Those who have not or cannot prove their vaccination status should talk to their doctor about getting vaccinated.