Mumps Outbreak Spreads At Eastern Illinois University

Vaccine_KTSMTwo cases of mumps have been reported at Eastern Illinois University, after an outbreak erupted in August at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.Knox County Health Department Director of Health Protection Sam Jarvis says no outbreaks have been reported in Knox County at this time.

Jarvis tells WGIL that mumps can be prevented with vaccines, but as of now, there is no indication from the state as to how it is spreading or who is being affected.

“Mumps is usually spread through cough or bodily fluids, things like that, so you need to think once you’re sick,” says Jarvis. “You know, really we look at this, it’s a vaccine preventable disease, so, it’s part of a MMR(Measels, Mumps, Rubella) shot that kids get in school and then again later in life. Right now we haven’t heard much from the state on the population that’s being affected or really where the transmission really started from.”

Knox and Monmouth Colleges both require vaccination records before students can attend, however Carl Sandburg College does not. Monmouth College Dean of Students Jacquelyn Condon says they are in works with the Warren County Health Department to be able to react if a student is infected.

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health Website, as of today, 178 cases of mumps have been reported statewide, with 128 cases coming from University of Illinois.

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