Harvard mumps outbreak increases to 6 confirmed, 14 suspected cases

Four more cases of the mumps have been diagnosed in students at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., according to a report in the Boston Herald.

This recent upswing brings Harvard related mumps totals to six confirmed and 14 suspected since mid-February.

According to the CDC, a two-dose measles-mumps-rubella vaccine still leaves a 12 percent chance of infection if one comes into contact with the mumps virus.

The vice chair of emergency medicine at Lahey Medical Center in Burlington, Mass., Mark Gendreau, MD, said in the Herald regarding the Harvard outbreak, "I think the reason they got into this is some of their students did not ever receive vaccination for this... I think they just need to do routine infection control and basically assess who's going to need it."

Mumps outbreaks have been recently reported in Colorado, Lexington-based University of Kentucky and in three Indiana universities.

More articles on infection control: 
In midst of Zika virus outbreak, WHO issues pregnancy management guidance 
How Google is working with UNICEF to fight Zika 
Hypothermia during surgery associated with greater infection risk

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