Wellness Alerts

Mumps Outbreak 2006

Mumps Update: October 3, 2006

State and local health departments continue to receive and investigate mumps case reports in Illinois. As of September 28, 2006, there have been 636 cases reported. While over 500 cases were associated with widespread outbreaks occurring earlier this spring, over 40 of the cases have been reported since August and are associated with two college campuses in northern Illinois. Both colleges have implemented control measures, including a 9 day isolation period for cases and intensive campus-based education on mumps disease and preventive measures.

According to the American College Health Association (ACHA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) educational institutions such as colleges/universities are at increased risk for mumps transmission because of the large concentration of individuals in living, learning and social environements. Because of the increased risk the Kane County Health Department has asked that educational institutions educate their communities on the following ACHA and CDC recommendations:

• Undergraduate & graduate students, faculty/staff, and other workers in post-high school educational institutions should receive two doses of MMR (combined Measels, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine, or posses alternate evidence of mumps immunity (physician diagnosis of disease or laboratory evidence)
• In addition, although birth before 1957 is usually considered as proof of immunity to mumps, during an outbreak, according to the ACHA and CDC, one dose of vaccine should be considered for this age group.

The effectiveness of the MMR vaccine against mumps is approximately 80% after one dose and 90% after two doses. Because the vaccine is not 100% effective, some cases can occur in vaccinated individuals

If you are interested in obtaining an MMR vaccine, the following is a list of local vaccination sites:

Kane County Health Department
1330 N. Highland Avenue
Aurora, IL 60506
To schedule an appointment call (630) 264-7665

Visiting Nurse Association of Fox Valley
49 E. Downer Place
Aurora, IL 60506
To scheule an appointment call (630) 892-4355