Mumps, the viral disease your parents probably suffered through as children before vaccines became ubiquitous in the 1970s, has made a surprise appearance at New York's Fordham University, where it is believed to have infected at least 13 students.
According to an all-campus email sent to students, 12 cases have been reported since Tuesday. Most have been restricted to the school's Rose Hill campus in the Bronx, but one case was reported at Fordham's Lincoln Center campus on Thursday. The new infection suggests the outbreak has managed to travel between boroughs, hopefully without infecting other New Yorkers along the way. All students are required to receive the vaccine for mumps, measles, and rubella (MMR), but the email explains that "vaccinations do not offer 100 percent protection."
"All the students with suspected mumps infections have either returned home or have been isolated from other residents during the infectious phase of the illness," said the university in a statement provided to Newsweek.
The university has cautioned students to wash their hands regularly and avoid sharing cups and utensils — an advisory best shared with anyone living in the immediate vicinity of Fordham. As one freshman put it in a radio interview with 1010 WINS' Al Jones, "In a college environment you're sharing everything, you know. You really are, I mean, I know we share drinks and stuff so you can definitely get it like that."
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Zach Schonfeld is a senior writer for Newsweek, where he covers culture for the print magazine. Previously, he was an ... Read more
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