As of Tuesday, six cases of mumps have been identified and confirmed in University of Wisconsin-Whitewater students.
The UW-W University Health and Counseling Service is working closely with the Walworth County Division of Public Health to initiate the appropriate follow-up investigation with close contacts of cases.
 The university and the Division of Public Health are encouraging all community members to take the following steps to stay healthy and prevent spreading the illness:
- Check individual and children’s immunization records to make all family members have had two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. Immunization with two doses of MMR vaccine is the safest and most effective way to prevent up to 95 percent of mumps infections for young adults. Individuals born before 1957 are likely to have had mumps disease as a child and are not generally considered to need vaccination. Children typically receive the MMR vaccine at 12 months of age and before entering kindergarten.
To find immunization records, people should check the Wisconsin Immunization Registry dhsWIR.org or call their health care providers;
 • Individuals or children who need the vaccine should contact their health care providers or pharmacies. The MMR vaccine is covered by BadgerCare and private insurance without a deductible or co-payment for people who need it. Individuals who do not have insurance should contact the Walworth County Division of Public Health at (262) 741-3140 to see if they are eligible for free or low-cost vaccine. UW-W students should contact University Health and Counseling Services to get information about how to be vaccinated;
- Follow preventive actions. Mumps is spread from an infected person through coughing, sneezing, talking or through contact with saliva, so people should wash hands their regularly with soap and water; sneeze and cough into a tissue or their elbow; and avoid sharing drinks, food and utensils;
- Residents should watch for symptoms even if they have been vaccinated. Early symptoms usually begin 16 to 18 days after exposure and are similar to those of the flu – fever, headache, muscle aches and fatigue. Swelling of the salivary glands in the cheek and jaw area usually follows and is a classic symptom of mumps. Sometimes mumps can cause tenderness or swelling of the testicles. In some cases, mumps infection can result in complications that can be severe and result in hospitalization;
- People who are sick should stay home. Anyone with symptoms should stay away from school, work or similar activities. Anyone experiencing symptoms of mumps, should contact their health care providers. UW-W students experiencing symptoms should call University Health and Counseling Services.
Additional information about mumps is available from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services at dhs.wisconsin.gov/immunization/mumps.htm.
Information is also available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at cdc.gov/mumps//.
For more information or questions, contact the Walworth County Division of Health at (262) 741-3140.
