Mumps Outbreak at Temple University Sickens 86 Students
The mumps outbreak at Temple University began in February, just before spring break. Mumps is typically spread through saliva among people who are living in close quarters.
Even sharing an elevator is enough to spread the disease. Most of the students who got mumps were already vaccinated, according to James Garrow, a health department spokesperson.
The walk-in clinics will be held on Wednesday, March 27, and Friday, March 29, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Temple’s Mitten Hall Great Court. The health department will offer a free MMR vaccine (measles, mumps and rubella) for all students, faculty and staff at Temple.
Temple University will now require all incoming freshmen to be up-to-date on their MMR vaccination series. Since February 25, the university has administered 173 doses of the MMR vaccine.
The CDC recommends two doses of the MMR vaccine, with the first dose given at 12- to 15-months of age, and the second dose given between 4 and 6 years of age — but there is evidence that immunity provided by the vaccine fades after 10 years, just before college.
The CDC recommends a third dose during outbreaks like the one at Temple.
Source: Mumps outbreak at Temple prompts free vaccine clinics after 86 students sickened
