Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
Since my last communication, the Office of Health Services has continued to work with the campus community on mumps prevention and education. We know our education efforts are working because students who are presenting with symptoms are coming to Health Services immediately after experiencing symptoms. This allows us to treat affected students immediately while preventing the further spread of mumps.
Currently, eight of our students have contracted mumps, and it appears these students are in shared social circles. That is why our team in Health Services remains steadfast in executing the University’s strong response protocol, which is consistent with guidance we have received from the Onondaga County Health Department. Our protocol includes isolating the infected students, sanitizing all areas with which the students came in contact and notifying all people who may have interacted with the affected students.
While vaccination is the best form of prevention, you can still contract the disease if you’ve been vaccinated. Employing good health practices is key to preventing the spread of mumps. Here’s how you can help:
• Cover your mouth/nose with a tissue or your arm when coughing or sneezing
• Wash your hands often with soap and water
• Avoid sharing cups, utensils, water bottles, etc.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces like sinks, doorknobs and tables
As a reminder, some common symptoms of mumps include:
• fever;
• headache;
• muscle aches;
• tiredness;
• loss of appetite; and
• swollen and tender salivary glands under the ears on one or both sides.
Though highly contagious, mumps is not life threatening. Mumps can be serious, but most people make a full recovery within a few weeks, and most symptoms can be managed with over-the-counter medication.
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should contact your physician immediately. To our students, you can call or visit Health Services.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us at 315.443.9005 if you would like to connect with a member of our team.
Sincerely,
Karen Nardella, M.D.
Syracuse University Health Services
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