Mumps Cases Bulging in Indiana
Indiana University officials say five mumps cases have been confirmed on the Bloomington campus.
In a statement Wednesday, Provost Lauren Robel says the university is working with the Monroe County Health Department and the Indiana State Department of Health to identify others who may be at risk because of close contact with infected students.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, mumps cases are at a 10-year high nationwide.
Last year Indiana had more than 150 confirmed mumps cases.
That’s a dramatic increase from previous years with three cases in 2015 and 24 cases in 2014.
Most mumps cases are reported on college campuses. IU Bloomington does require that students have a measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine before matriculation. Two doses of the vaccine are considered around 88 percent effective.
Mumps is caused by a virus that usually results in fever, fatigue, headache, and throat swelling.