Mumps confirmed at Cork college
CIT has this morning confirmed that reports of mumps within the college are correct.
Students were emailed this morning about the contagious disease caused by a virus that passes from one person to another through saliva, nasal secretions and close personal contact.
The news comes nearly a week after a case of rubella was identified at Apple’s Hollyhill campus, the first in over a decade.
The email, seen by the Cork Independent, was sent from Dr Dan Collins, Academic Administration & Student Affairs Manager and said: “A number of confirmed cases of mumps have been reported in Cork and more specifically, within the Institute. Please be advised that information has been provided by the medical centre. If you feel unwell or suspect you may be affected by this illness, please telephone your GP for additional advice.”
Students can access information at mycit.ie/medical.mumpsq_a.
The HSE said in January that people with mumps should limit their contact with others while infectious, while those not affected are advised to get the MMR vaccination.
The Department of Public Health, HSE South recommends that students and young adults should ensure they have had two doses of the MMR vaccine, available free of charge from the HSE. For more information, see www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/whoweare/requestrecord.html on how to see your vaccination record.
Any person with mumps should limit their contact with others while infectious. A person with mumps and is advised not to attend work, school, college, university or child-care during their infectious period (i.e. for five days after onset of swelling).
Meanwhile in the same email, CIT has took the opportunity to advise students about coronavirus, known as COVID-19. They advise students that trips to any affected regions should be cancelled and trips to any other area should be undertaken on the basis of the stundents’ own risk assessment.
Students returning from an affected area should call the local Department of Public Health for advice. If feeling unwell, contact your GP immediately by phone and isolate yourself.
Dr Collins added: “We expect that the situation may escalate quite quickly over the coming weeks. We will be meeting regularly to ensure regular communications and we will be developing further contingency plans in response to potential escalation.”