The Berkeley Public Health Department updated their Mumps alert on October 7, announcing that there have been 7 confirmed cases of Mumps in Berkeley, with approximately 25 additional probable cases.

So far all confirmed cases have been within the UC Berkeley campus community, and all have received both doses of MMR vaccine in the past. In other recent college outbreaks, mumps has occurred even in persons who are fully vaccinated, and there is evidence that a third dose of MMR vaccine can help control outbreaks in this setting.

The California Department of Public Health is therefore recommending a third dose of MMR vaccine for UC Berkeley students living in dorms and other similar group settings. Also, a third dose of MMR is being offered as an option to all UC Berkeley students, faculty and staff who want to increase their protection from mumps.

Mumps is a viral disease which causes swelling of one or both cheeks (the salivary glands), and sometimes complications such as orchitis in post-pubertal males (inflammation of the testicles) and other rare complications.

Children 12 months of age or older, adolescents, and adults born during or after 1957 should receive two doses of MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella). The vaccine is not 100% effective, but it cuts down the chances of contracting this disease considerably. If you or your child have not yet received both doses of MMR, or if you are part of the Berkeley campus community and have not yet received your third dose of MMR, please contact our office.

For information from UC Berkeley: see "Mumps Outbreak Alert UC Berkeley Q&A"
For more information about Mumps, see the CDC's Q&A.
For more information about the MMR vaccine, see the CDC's Vaccine Information Statement.