There is a suspected case of mumps on campus, according to a college dean.
A warning about the contagious virus was sent to Derwent College students in an email by Dean Jenny Underhill after officials had been notified of the suspected outbreak last week.
It is not known how the unnamed undergraduate, who resides in Derwent College, potentially contracted the virus, but it is possible to get even if you have had the MMR (Measles, Mumps and Reubella) jab.
In the email, Derwent students were told: “We’ve been notified that there’s at least one suspected case of mumps in the College residences. It is possible to contract mumps even if you have had the MMR (Measles, Mumps and Reubella) jab.”
Mumps is a contagious viral infection that used to be most common in children.
The symptoms of it include swelling of the glands below the ears, tenderness and difficult swallowing, headches, joint pain, nausea, dry mouth, stomach ache, tiredness, loss of appetite and high temperature.
The National Health Service says the infection is most recognisable by “painful swellings at the side of the face under the ears, giving a person with mumps a distinctive ‘hamster face’ appearance”.
It adds that a suspected case should be referred to a doctor for diagnosis.
Students have been asked to contact NHS Direct on 111 as the “first port of call” if they believe they may have the virus.
The email added: “If you have any concerns you can contact the College Welfare Team however if you believe you may have mumps please contact NHS Direct on 111 as your first port of call. They will advise you of the next steps to take. If you do have mumps it is best to return home, or try to stay isolated, as mumps is contagious.”
The news comes following last year’s outbreak of scurvy on campus.
A resident of Langwith College on Heslington East contracted the disease following a deficiency of Vitamin D.
Scurvy in Langwith, Mumps in Derwent, what is next, Beriberi in James?
Make that two outbreaks. I look like Jabba the hut never mind a hamster.
Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed…
This is quite dangerous scaremongering from Vision. MMR provides 95% protection from mumps according to the very NHS website they quote elsewhere. This is as good a cover as any vaccine provides. Vision shouldn’t worry students in this way.
I’m in the unlucky 5% then.
I would not call this scaremongering, it was a direct quote from the Dean’s e-mail. I would not direct your ire at Vision for this
What about the scabies outbreak? Vision do some research Derwents riddled with it also
it’s certainly spread off campus. I look like a deformed ET.
How is it scaremongering to point out the MMR isn’t 100% effective? Doctors will tell you the same thing if you ask them about mumps. Better people know than assume they’re totally immune and contract it anyway.
I already know of 4 people with mumps all members of Derwent college but in 3rd year. So it is possible to get it people should take some actions to try and prevent its spread.