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ISU Health Officials Urge Caution After 3 Mumps Cases Reported

Measles, mumps and rubella vaccines
Seth Wenig
/
AP
ISU health officials said the three mumps cases on campus are not related.

Illinois State University reports three people on campus have contracted the mumps.
ISU health officials said it’s not considered an outbreak since the cases are unrelated, though they urge students, faculty and staff to take precautions to keep the viral illness from spreading.

The McLean County Health Department reports all three mumps cases involve people in their 20s and each had updated vaccinations. 

"Even though all the cases were appropriately vaccinated and still contracted mumps, the vaccine can also provide protection from developing more serious symptoms and complications," said Melissa Graven, communicable disease prevention supervisor with the McLean County Health Department. 

Mumps is spread from person-to-person usually through talking, coughing, sneezing or touching infected surfaces.

Director of Student Health Services Dr. Christina Nulty and Medical Director Dr. Anne Risk urge the campus community to make sure they have received two doses of the MMR (measles mumps rubella) vaccine; avoid sharing drinks, eating utensils and cigarettes; avoid close contact with anyone who is sick; avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth; frequently clean all surfaces and cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing.

Nulty and Risk said it could take 12 to 25 days for the first symptoms to appear.

ISU calls for anyone who contracts mumps to stay home for five days after the onset of symptoms.

The Student Health Services website offers a secure portal to check immunization records or to seek care options after hours.

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Eric Stock is the News Director at WGLT. You can contact Eric at ejstoc1@ilstu.edu.
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