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Mumps has been rising at an alarming rate within the state, and is affecting college students at a higher percentage than any other age group. While in Minnesota, there is no evidence to show that college-age students are at a higher risk than others, Counseling and Health Services is well aware of the threat and has taken precautions to help prepare for any potential occurrence of the disease that may break out on campus.

“College students are very mobile,” said Interim Director of Coundseling and Health Services Barb Bester, adding that because of this activity there is a “good likelihood” that an epidemic could happen at Hamline. Iowa-born students who took trips back home over the recent extended weekend may have put some of them in direct contact with the disease.

Students, especially those who have had contact with anyone from Iowa, are cautioned to watch for signs that they may be infected. The first symptom is often a persistent headache accompanied by fever. Most people experience a swelling in the temples and neck. In addition, swallowing may become difficult and the mouth may feel drier than usual. It is important that any student experiencing these symptoms visits Counseling and Health Services (CHS) or an off-campus doctor as soon as possible.

If CHS determines that a student may have mumps, they are required to direct him or her to a private clinic to confirm the diagnosis. Mumps is not only miserable, but also highly contagious--each case must be documented with the Minnesota Department of Health.

“This becomes a public issue,” Bester said. Any student who is infected should not attend classes; the recommended amount of time for bed rest for mumps victims is five days, but the disease can remain contagious for two weeks. Therefore, CHS has met with Dean of Students Alan Sickbert as well as deans from the Law and Graduate schools to confirm that exceptions would be made for any student who misses class due to the disease.

“As with all illnesses, a student who has mumps will need to contact the professor to discuss how to makeup work,” Sickbert said, but added that offices involved with the planning have “notified professors of the potential outbreak so that they can be as accommodating as possible for their students.”

In the meantime, all Hamline members are encouraged to check their medical records in order to ensure they have received two doses of the MMR vaccine. While one can still become infected if they have undergone both doses, side effects will be greatly reduced.

Anyone who has not received the full treatment should contact the St. Paul-Ramsey County Department of Public Health, where they can receive their shots. Students are eligible for reduced rates if they show their ID, bringing the cost from $65-75 down to about $10.