From Friday April 22, 2016 to Tuesday, April 26, 2016, the number of confirmed mumps cases at Harvard University rose from 34 to 40.
Updated: 4/28/2016 at 10:28 EST
From Friday April 22, 2016 to Tuesday, April 27, 2016, the number of
Although Harvard University policy states that all incoming freshman are required to receive a Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) vaccine, on March 1, Harvard University Health Services (HUHS) confirmed two cases of mumps on two of its campuses: one at the College and the other at Harvard Divinity School. At the same time, 14 other university campuses
After 6 cases were confirmed, in compliance with University policy, the contagious students were quarantined [at the Harvard Inn] for 5 days, in an effort to contain the outbreak. By the end of March, the number of infections had spiked to 16, and spread to other universities in the state of Massachusetts.
HUHS spokesperson, Lindsey Baker,
Barreira attributes the rise in mumps infections to students’ lack of preventive action. “Students are not acting in a responsible way, knowingly exposing other students to the virus,” Barreira said. “It’s both disappointing and frustrating because I thought we were on the decline.”
Rohit Bhalla, DO, Chief of the Section of Infectious Diseases at the University Medical Center of Princeton, explains what the public can do to protect themselves from contracting mumps.
