The mumps outbreak at the University of Illinois stands at over 100 cases after the first week of classes. Those who have contact with the U of I are now being encouraged to get an extra dose of the mumps vaccine. Most who’ve come down with the disease had already been vaccinated. Champaign-Urbana Public Health Department administrator Julie Pryde says the outbreak is a "public health crisis", an exasperating one.
"Having to waste so much time, so many resources and so much energy to deal with these outbreaks of vaccine-preventable disease. That is extremely frustrating to me because we should not be seeing these. We have other issues to worry about."
Pryde recommends getting a booster vaccine to increase immunity. She says the mumps component of the mumps-measles-rubella shot is only 89% effective. The outbreak comes at an inopportune time because certain public health department funding is on hold due to the budget impasse.
