2008 Woodie Awards
Local mumps outbreak spurs UM enforcement
Students required to recieve MMR vaccinations before start of spring semester
Meghan Hayward
Issue date: 1/24/08 Section: News
In a third attempt from the University of Maine to notify students they needed to show proof of two doses of MMR or provide documentation of immunity, students were handed letters during the first week of classes.
The notification comes as a result of a mumps outbreak in Maine.
According to Richard Young, Practice Manager at Cutler Health Center, e-mails were sent through FirstClass in November when the first cases of mumps were found. Young said a second e-mail was sent on Dec. 28 after the news of the mumps outbreak.
"Students at the university have done a tremendous job taking care of their records," Young said. "They have been extremely receptive to the notifications and have acted quickly."
Young said that at the time of the mumps outbreak 1,961 students had incomplete records. As of the first of this week, that number was down to single digits.
While flyers that were spread across campus stated "No mumps immunity, no classes, it's that simple." Young said that no students were withheld from classes.
Mumps is an acute viral infection of the salivary glands. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle ache, swelling and tenderness of the salivary glands at the angle of the jaw.
Transmission can occur through coughing and sneezing, contact with saliva or from contact with surfaces that have been contaminated with the mumps virus.
If a student doesn't meet the immunization requirements, there are some exceptions that would allow him or her to still be enrolled in school. These exceptions include a physician's statement declaring the vaccination is medically inadvisable or if a student or parent states in writing an opposition to the immunization because of a religious belief or for moral, philosophical or other personal reasons.
Students who are enrolled in a distance education program offered by a school or who don't physically attend classes or programs at a school facility are also exempt. Anyone who is not seeking a degree and comes to campus for only one class is also included in the exemption.
The notification comes as a result of a mumps outbreak in Maine.
According to Richard Young, Practice Manager at Cutler Health Center, e-mails were sent through FirstClass in November when the first cases of mumps were found. Young said a second e-mail was sent on Dec. 28 after the news of the mumps outbreak.
"Students at the university have done a tremendous job taking care of their records," Young said. "They have been extremely receptive to the notifications and have acted quickly."
Young said that at the time of the mumps outbreak 1,961 students had incomplete records. As of the first of this week, that number was down to single digits.
While flyers that were spread across campus stated "No mumps immunity, no classes, it's that simple." Young said that no students were withheld from classes.
Mumps is an acute viral infection of the salivary glands. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle ache, swelling and tenderness of the salivary glands at the angle of the jaw.
Transmission can occur through coughing and sneezing, contact with saliva or from contact with surfaces that have been contaminated with the mumps virus.
If a student doesn't meet the immunization requirements, there are some exceptions that would allow him or her to still be enrolled in school. These exceptions include a physician's statement declaring the vaccination is medically inadvisable or if a student or parent states in writing an opposition to the immunization because of a religious belief or for moral, philosophical or other personal reasons.
Students who are enrolled in a distance education program offered by a school or who don't physically attend classes or programs at a school facility are also exempt. Anyone who is not seeking a degree and comes to campus for only one class is also included in the exemption.
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