43 confirmed cases of the mumps at Southeast

Students are tested in accordance with the State of Missouri Protocol outlined by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. The reports at Southeast come on the heels of a mumps outbreak on the campus of the University of Missouri-Columbia reported this past fall. As of Feb 23. the university has 350 confirmed cases.

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services cases continue to be reported among university students at 14 other colleges and universities across the state of Missouri.

Although reports of mumps among colleges and universities are not limited to just these settings. New cases have been linked to persons outside of colleges, including high schools and professional sports teams.

Symptoms of the mumps include puffy cheeks under the ear, fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness and loss of appetite. Any student who has these symptoms should take immediate action to self-quarantine themselves and visit their health care provider or the Campus Health Clinic. Students living on campus are encouraged, if possible, to leave the campus and return home to self-quarantine.

A majority of the confirmed cases are generally among students who are members of the Greek student community, specifically the fraternity community. Students should not attend class or social events and should take every possible action to limit their exposure to others until they meet with a medical professional.

With the continued confirmed and suspected cases of the mumps at Southeast, it’s recommended by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, students consider getting a third dose of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services have confirmed they do not have any further free vaccines to provide to anyone across Missouri and any new vaccines would not be purchased until a new fiscal year, which begins in July.

“The decision to provide the vaccine was made by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. They have shared with the campus that they have exhausted their supply of vaccines that they can provide free of cost for the entire state with what they provided to the Southeast Missouri region prior to spring break,” Dr. Bruce Skinner, assistant vice president for student success and auxiliary services, said.

“In terms of mumps still going around we do expect, based on what public health epidemiologists have shared with the Public Health for Cape Girardeau County and with the university, that we will see cases of mumps throughout the spring semester,” Skinner said.

Any member of the campus community can contact the Cape Girardeau Public Health Agency at (573) 335-7846 to arrange for a third vaccination for the cost of $45.

Unvaccinated individuals may contact the Campus Health Clinic at (573) 651-2270 to schedule an appointment for the vaccine. Campus Health Clinic hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If a student is diagnosed with mumps by a health care provider outside the Campus Health Clinic, please email Bruce Skinner at healthservices@semo.edu or call at (573) 651-5103.