Recent College Campus Measles and Mumps Outbreaks

Posted: May 11th, 2016 at 12:00AM - by e7 Health

Many people may not have heard of Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It's a small, private school with about 3,990 students. Just recently, Calvin College announced that more than a dozen students may be forced to leave their campus if test results come back positive from the state of Michigan for Mumps. They wouldn't be allowed to return to campus for 28 days or until they were vaccinated. 3 out of 4 results have come back negative, and test results are pending for a 4th case. More than 40 students have been found to lack vaccinations on campus, and immunizations have been offered to them all by the Kent County Health Department. About a dozen student still need shots (Steve Kelso, the Communications Manager for Kent County said that of those 12, four of those students are medically unable to get vaccinated). As of yesterday, the unvaccinated students were still allowed to remain in classes while the confirmation testing is pending.

The Dean of Residence life at Calvin College, as well as the academics department are now forced to look at housing options and exam/testing options for students who may be asked to leave campus because they are unvaccinated if there is a positive test on campus. Some of the students who are facing banishment from campus are set to graduate in just a few weeks, and may not be able to partake in commencement activities. 3 of 4 samples that were sent out have come back negative, so now the school is just waiting on the 4th sample.

Over 600 miles away, in Memphis, Tennessee, the Univerity of Memphis is warning it's students that there may be a case of Measles on it's campus. There are 7 confirmed cases of Measles in Shelby county, and one of U of M's students may have come in contact with an infected person and may be contagious. The student in question has been asked to stay off campus until it's determined that they do not have the disease. In order to begin school at U of M, students need to submit proof of vaccinations, but there are several vaccine expemptions under Tennessee state law.

According to the Shelby County Health Department, six of the seven cases in Shelby county had no previous vaccinations against Measles. "Four of the cases were connected to each other, two other cases were connected and the seventh is a lone case." In the entire state of Tennessee, over the last 12 years there have been 9 previous cases of Measles. Now there are 7 alone in Shelby county in the last month or so. County officials are rightly worried and concerned.

Measles and Mumps can both be prevented by getting vaccinated. At e7 Health, we carry the Measles and Mumps vaccine (MMR). Call e7 Health today to get your appointment scheduled! Not sure when you should be getting the second dose of the vaccine? Not to worry! We will schedule you for your second dose and give you follow up reminder calls to let you know that your appointment is coming up.