Health notice to OSU students, faculty and staff regarding mumps

Thursday, April 20, 2006

The Oklahoma State Department of Health is recommending that students, faculty and staff of Oklahoma colleges and universities review their immune status for mumps, and if they are not fully immune that they be vaccinated against mumps.

Although mumps is a generally mild viral infection of the salivary glands, it can occasionally lead to serious complications such as encephalitis, meningitis, inflammation of the testicles or ovaries, and deafness. Up-to-date vaccination is the best protection.

You should review your immunization records and consider being vaccinated if the following criteria apply to you:

If you were born after 1957 and do NOT have:

• A record of 2 (two) MMR or live mumps vaccine received on or after the first birthday,
• Laboratory evidence of mumps immunity, such as a blood test, or
• Documentation of a physician’s diagnosis of mumps

If you do not have these, you may be at risk. Please contact your health care provider, the Payne County Health Department or University Health Services to arrange for an MMR vaccination. If you were born before 1957, there is no recommendation for vaccination.

If you have received two vaccinations, there is no recommendation to obtain a third. MMR vaccine supplies are limited and priority will be given to those who are either non-immunized or have only had one vaccination.