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Frequently Asked Questions

Mumps is a contagious, viral illness that is primarily preventable through vaccination. The
virus is spread through saliva or mucus from the mouth, nose and throat. A person carrying the
virus can infect others through coughing, sneezing and the sharing of items such as water bottles,
utensils and food.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mumps typically
starts with a fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite. Most people will
experience swelling of their salivary glands within 48 hours. This is what causes the puffy
cheeks and a tender, swollen jaw typically seen with mumps.
Mumps typically resolves itself within a few weeks. However, the contagious period extends
for two days before and five days following the onset of swelling.

The most effective way to prevent mumps is through two doses of the measles, mumps and
rubella (MMR) vaccine. Information about the vaccine is available online.

As a preventive measure, if you have not received two doses of MMR, please give strong consideration to getting
vaccinated.

Yes.  Given the number of individuals impacted, San Diego County Health and Human Services (HHS) has deemed this to be an outbreak situation, and both SDSU and HHS are working closely and collaboratively to manage the outbreak.
An outbreak is three cases of mumps that are linked by time and place.

Due to privacy regulations, specific information about the students and their programs of study cannot be shared, but I am able to share that all students with symptoms are currently self-isolating and are not to attend classes or other campus activities until they are well.

Immunity to the mumps can wane, or decrease, over time.

Two doses of the vaccine are approximately 88% effective at protecting against mumps.

One dose is approximately 78% effective.

The MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine prevents most, but not all, cases of mumps and complications caused by the disease.

When situations like this occur, the University works with County Health to identify individuals who may have been exposed and follow up with those individuals.

After a comprehensive assessment of the outbreak, HHS is recommending a booster for students who are at increased risk, defined as those living in BLVD63, the off-campus apartment complex. 


HHS will be offering measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) booster clinics for students who reside at BLVD63. The clinics will be held inside the BLVD63 community clubhouse: 


Thursday, Feb. 27, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 28, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. 

Yes.  Immunization provides incomplete protection from mumps as immunity decreases over
time.

A person who has two doses of MMR vaccine reduces their risk for getting mumps by approximately 88%.

If you have not received two MMR does since one year of age, it is recommended you get
vaccinated.

After a comprehensive assessment of the outbreak, HHS is recommending a booster for students who are at increased risk, defined as those living in BLVD63, the off-campus apartment complex. 

You can obtain the vaccine from a local pharmacy, your primary healthcare provider or from Student Health Services.

If I have insurance, how can I access the vaccine?

Step 1: Locate the phone number for your health insurance as well as your member ID number. You can find this information on your insurance card.

Step 2: Call your health insurance company and ask the following questions:

  • Where can I go to get the MMR vaccine?
  • How much will this cost using my health insurance
  • Do I need to make an appointment to get this or can I walk in?

Step 3: If vaccine or preventative treatment needs to be administered at a doctor's office and you do not already have a local primary care provider, ask for a list of medical providers (doctor, nurse practitioner, pharmacies, etc.) in the area and instructions on how to make an appointment.

Step 4: Before concluding the call, confirm price, location, and if an appointment is needed.

What do I do if I have Medi-Cal or Medicaid?
Please reach out to SDSU's Community Resource Specialist at 619-594-4133.

What should I do if my insurance is out of state or if I am out of network?
Please reach out to SDSU's Community Resource Specialist at 619-594-4133.

I am uninsured and cannot afford the vaccine. What should I do?
Please reach out to SDSU's Community Resource Specialist at 619-594-4133. 

If you have exhibited any of the symptoms listed above, immediately self-isolate and seek
medical attention as soon as possible.

When calling a clinic or provider, be certain to inform
them of your symptoms right away.


Anyone may call the County of San Diego Immunization Program by calling 866-358-2966
and pressing 5 at the prompt to speak with a public health nurse about mumps.

Students: Please contact Student Health Services at 619-594-4325 prior to arrival, or
contact your personal healthcare provider. Students may also call the Nurse Advice
Line at 858-225-3105, which is available after 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, on
weekends and when SDSU is closed.

SDSU faculty and staff: You are encouraged to speak with your medical provider or
contact the Employee Assistance Program, which offers confidential support for
workplace issues. Additional information, resources, and tools are available by calling
800-342-8111.

Only students who have been instructed to isolate due to symptoms of the mumps or those students who have symptoms and are contacting their healthcare provider need to self-isolate.

All other students are encouraged to ensure they are up to date on their vaccine requirements, but do not need to self-isolate.

CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory illnesses, which includes the mumps.

You should only wear a mask if a healthcare professional recommends it.

Some members of our community do choose to wear a mask for various reasons, including weakened immune systems.

Facemasks are not recommended for the general public and you only need to wear a mask if instructed to do so by your healthcare provider.

If you see a member of our community wearing a mask, there is usually no reason for concern.  These individuals may have weakened immune systems or other reasons for wearing the mask, but are usually protecting their own health and pose no health risk to the community.

HHS will be offering measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) booster clinics for students who reside at BLVD63. The clinics for apartment residents will be held inside the BLVD63 community clubhouse: 


Thursday, Feb. 27, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.


Friday, Feb. 28, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. 

There are a number of mumps outbreaks occurring internationally right now.  There have been hundreds of cases of mumps within the last twelve months in Baja California, where Tijuana is located.  

Members of our community who are traveling to Tijuana / Baja or to other international locations should ensure they are fully immunized with two doses of MMR and use good healthy habits.

We are implementing measures to minimize this outbreak, however we do anticipate more cases at this time.

With the mumps, indivdiuals can be contagious before they start to show symptoms, which means that we may have others who were exposed before these students started to feel sick and were isolated.

We believe the proactive steps we are taking to prevent further spread will help minimize the number of additional cases.

It takes approximately two weeks for an MMR vaccine to become effective.  

A booster is a supplementary dose of a vaccine.  In this case, the MMR booster would mean that County Health is recommending another dose for students who live in the BLVD63 apartment complex--even if they have already had two MMR vaccines.


We often call these supplemental shots boosters because they help boost the immune system against a specific virus or disease.

We recommend all members of the SDSU community check to ensure they have two doses of MMR vaccine.

After a comprehensive assessment of the outbreak, HHS is recommending a booster for students who are at increased risk, defined as those living in BLVD63, the off-campus apartment complex. 


HHS will be offering measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) booster clinics for students who reside at BLVD63. The clinics will be held inside the BLVD63 community clubhouse: 


Thursday, Feb. 27, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 28, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. 

At this time, the risk to the general community is low.  There is no reason for general community members to avoid campus.

If you have never had a Measles, Mumps, Rubella vaccine, you should get vaccinated.

If you have a weakened immune system or another medical issue that prevents you from getting the vaccine, we recommend consulting with your healthcare provider.

Students should contact Student Health Services at 619-594-4325. Faculty and staff should
contact their healthcare provider or contact the Employee Assistance Provider by calling 800-342-
8111.