8 Confirmed Cases of Mumps Reported at Stevens Institute

There have been eight confirmed cases of mumps on the campus of the Stevens Institute of Technology, officials said Thursday.

The cases were first identified last week and were confirmed as mumps on Thursday. The students, ranging in age from 18 to 21 years old, all had been vaccinated, the Hoboken school said.

“The city’s Health Department has been working closely with Stevens since the beginning and we are thankful for their responsiveness and proactive efforts,” Mayor Dawn Zimmer said in a Nixle alert.

“Every precaution has been taken to ensure the safety of the public. The best way to prevent mumps is vaccination. Members of our community should follow the recommendations from health officials and contact their doctor if they believe they may have symptoms. We will keep the community informed of any new developments.”

Stevens has been working with the New Jersey State Department of Health and has been following the department's recommendations, according to a school statement.

The students with mumps were each fully vaccinated with two documented doses of mumps-containing vaccine, according to Stevens.

According to Stevens, outbreaks of mumps have occurred in vaccinated populations before, including other colleges and universities such as Ohio State University and Fordham University.

“At Stevens, our top priority is the health and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff. Consistent with the procedures outlined by the NJDOH, all students with suspected mumps infection were isolated from others during the infectious phase of the illness and returned to their homes off campus," said Maggie Cunning, director of the Student Health Services. “There have been no reports of newly symptomatic cases since the initial cases last week.”

All Stevens’ students are required to have full vaccinations before attending the school, including the vaccination for mumps, measles and rubella (MMR). Faculty and staff members who are unsure of their immunization status have been advised to contact a health care provider.

Stevens advises students and staff, or anyone who may have recently visited the campus or had close contact with a student or staff member to visit a healthcare provider if the following symptoms occur: swollen and tender salivary glands under the ears or jaw on one or both sides of the face, fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite.

For more information about mumps, visit the CDC website.