Mumps at Kentucky Colleges and Universities

In the latter part of 2015, mumps outbreaks were reported at the University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana) and the University of Iowa. Those outbreaks continued into early 2016. In February 2016, confirmed outbreaks of mumps were reported in students at universities in Indiana – Butler University in Indianapolis and Indiana University (IU), Bloomington. Now, multiple cases of mumps in college students have been confirmed in Kentucky. The upcoming Spring Break periods for colleges and universities may allow Kentucky college students to travel to places where mumps virus is circulating, thereby coming into close contact with persons infectious with mumps. Mumps cases may then newly appear on college and university campuses, in multiple locations in Kentucky, following Spring Break. The Kentucky Department for Public Health (KY-DPH) recommends that Kentucky colleges and universities take actions now to prepare for mumps cases being identified on campus or in the local community. For more information, contact the Marshall County Health Department at 270-527-1496.