Mumps outbreak in Tuscaloosa, Alabama has also been infecting students of the University of Alabama. Fortunately, the outbreak has subsided over the weekend.
The outbreak was reported by the University of Alabama to the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) last week, according to Outbreak News Today. The mumps outbreak was found in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in the period of five weeks from Jan. 27 to Feb. 23.
Following the report, ADPH sent investigation team to UA to work with the University in probing the case. Although the University of Alabama is considered to have the highly vaccinated population of students, but that does not completely shutdown the possibility of mumps. It is because, the vaccination only helps to limit the mumps, not completely eliminate it.
During investigation, ADPH found many students, faculty members and staffs are not properly vaccinated with two doses of MMR vaccine that prevent measles, mumps and rubella. Most of them are vaccinated with only one dose of vaccine. ADPH immediately administered the second shot of vaccination, as well as the vaccination for those who have not received MMR vaccine.
However, there are some students who declined to take the vaccination. For this case, ADPH recommended the students who has exposed to mumps and without vaccine protection to skip the class for 25 days.
“The risk of mumps can be significantly reduced with two MMR vaccines,” said Dr. Karen Landers from the ADPH explaining the MMR vaccine. “ People should also wash hands, cover coughs, clean surfaces, and stay home when ill.”
Last weekend the outbreak at the University of Alabama has subsided. There was no new case reported.
However, sudden outbreak of mump has made the health authority to seriously consider the third dose of MMR vaccine. According to Washington Post, more than 5,000 cases were reported last year. That made the number as the most in the decade.
Watch the explanation from Dr. David Greuner in CBS about mumps, including its symptoms, treatment and prevention below
