Campus Health Alert: Suspected case of mumps is confirmed positive

Dear Members of our Campus Community,

SUNY Oswego has received notification from the Oswego County Health Department that the one suspected case of mumps, previously communicated via email to the campus community, has been confirmed positive.

It is important to note that while this is just one confirmed case on campus, the Health Department has officially elevated SUNY Oswego to an outbreak status in light of the mumps outbreak in New York State, particularly in the Nassau County area of Long Island.

SUNY Oswego is working diligently to stay out in front of the matter and minimize the impact on our campus and community.  The affected student did leave campus, as of Tuesday morning, and is now home.  The administration and our Health Center professionals are working together with the New York State and Oswego County Health departments; communicating directly with those students who, according to our records, have not received the MMR vaccination; and requiring students to provide proof of vaccination or be vaccinated immediately (at no cost) at the Walker Health Center on campus or at the Oswego County Health Department.  The Walker Health Center will offer extended hours of operation today, Sept. 14 and Thursday, Sept. 15 and be open until 8 p.m.

Per New York State law, those students, who elect not to receive the vaccination, need to be excluded from campus by Friday, Sept. 16, 2016 at 4 p.m. and remain off campus for a period of 26 days. Students who separate from campus will be directed to the Office of the Provost for support and information on maintaining class requirements.

SUNY Oswego is taking all precautionary measures to be responsible to the entire campus. We encourage faculty and staff to review their immunization status and seek MMR vaccination if needed. Health officials have also been notifying those who may have had contact with the affected student and checking their immunization records. Anyone feeling sick (experiencing mumps like symptoms - fever, headache, muscle weakness, stiff neck, loss of appetite, and swelling and tenderness of one or more of the salivary glands situated along the angle of the jaw and inside of the mouth) should immediately visit the Walker Health Center.

For more information about mumps, visit https://www.oswego.edu/mumps. If you have any questions or would like to speak with someone, call 315.312.3620 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. (EST)