3 cases of mumps found at UConn’s Storrs campus

Three students enrolled at UConn’s Storrs campus this fall have been diagnosed with mumps, university officials said Monday.

While 98% of all UConn students have received two doses of the MMR vaccine, which provides protection against the mumps virus, about 2% are not vaccinated due to documented medical or religious reasons.

“Even those who received two doses of vaccine can become infected,” reads an email sent to faculty, staff and students. “University students are particularly susceptible to the mumps virus, especially if they are in frequent contact with other students in residence halls, sports teams, or activity groups.”

The email said mumps is “not usually dangerous, but can be painful.” Treatment focuses on managing symptoms.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mumps typically “starts with a few days of fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite. Then most people will have swelling of their salivary glands ... [causing] puffy cheeks and a tender, swollen jaw.” The swelling typically subsides in about a week.

Outbreaks of the disease are most common among people who “have prolonged, close contact” through sharing drinks, kissing, living together or playing sports. Symptoms may appear several weeks after initial contact with the virus.

UConn said it will be reaching out to students who have a high risk of contracting the disease based on their potential contact with the three infected students and recommending a third dose of the MMR vaccine.

The university stated there are no increased risks of contracting the disease for students at the regional campuses, UConn Law, or UConn Health.

Amanda Blanco can be reached at ablanco@courant.com.

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