Mumps Cases Confirmed on Stevens Campus Health officials today confirmed several cases of mumps on the campus of the Stevens Institute of Technology. The cases were first identified as suspected cases last week, and there have been no reports of new cases since last week. “The City’s Health Department has been working closely with Stevens since the beginning and we are thankful for their responsiveness and proactive efforts,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “Every precaution has been taken to ensure the safety of the public. The best way to prevent mumps is vaccination. Members of our community should follow the recommendations from health officials and contact their doctor if they believe they may have symptoms. We will keep the community informed of any new developments.” The New Jersey Department of Health has created a flyer of Frequently Asked Questions regarding mumps: state.nj.us/health/cd/documents/mumps/mumps_public_faq_04172014.pdf. Additional information and resources can be found at the NJ Department of Health website: state.nj.us/health/cd/mumps/. Stevens Institute of Technology issued the following statement with additional information: Mumps Cases Found at Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, N.J. – The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH), in conjunction with the Hoboken Health Department, Stevens Institute of Technology, and additional local, county, and state health departments, is investigating eight cases of confirmed mumps found in students at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ. Stevens has been working closely with the New Jersey State Department of Health from the onset and is following all of its recommendations in treating the cases. “At Stevens our top priority is the health and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff. Consistent with the procedures outlined by the NJDOH, all students with suspected mumps infection were isolated from others during the infectious phase of the illness and returned to their homes off campus,” said Maggie Cunning, Director of the Student Health Services. “There have been no reports of newly symptomatic cases since the initial cases last week.” Cases were found in students ranging in age from 18 to 21 years and all were fully vaccinated with two documented doses of mumps-containing vaccine. Outbreaks of mumps have occurred in vaccinated populations before including other colleges and universities such as Ohio State University and Fordham University in New York City. All Stevens’ students are required to have full vaccinations before attending the University, including the vaccination for mumps, measles and rubella (MMR). Faculty and staff members who are unsure of their immunization status have been advised to contact a health care provider. Stevens is encouraging students and staff, or anyone who may have recently visited the campus or had close contact with a Stevens Institute of Technology student/staff member to visit their healthcare provider if they are exhibiting the following symptoms: swollen and tender salivary glands under the ears or jaw on one or both sides of the face, fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite. Mumps is a disease reportable within 24 hours as per N.J.A.C. 8:57, which can be accessed at: nj.gov/health/cd/reporting.shtml For more information about mumps, please visit: CDC: cdc.gov/mumps cdc.gov/mumps/outbreaks.html Mumps specimen collection: cdc.gov/mumps/lab/index.html FAQs on mumps testing: cdc.gov/mumps/lab/qa-lab-test-infect.html Prevention & control in healthcare settings: cdc.gov/mumps/prev-control-settings/index.html Mumps fact sheet for patients: cdc.gov/mumps/about/downloads/mumps-factsheet.pdf More information on MMR vaccines: cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/mumps New Jersey Department of Health: nj.gov/health/cd/mumps/index.shtml Directory of local health departments in NJ: state.nj.us/health/lh/directory/lhdselectcounty.shtml
Posted on: Thu, 17 Apr 2014 21:45:14 +0000
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