WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Two clinics to provide free mumps vaccinations have been set for Tuesday, April 12, and Monday, April 18, at Purdue University. The vaccination clinics were scheduled following the confirmation of several cases of mumps on the West Lafayette campus.

Both clinics will take place from noon to 8 p.m. in Purdue’s Córdova Recreational Sports Center’s Gold and Black Gym on Court 3.

Free MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccinations will be provided to Purdue faculty, staff and students who meet the following criteria: do not have two documented MMR vaccinations, were born after 1957 and have not had mumps in the past. Women who are pregnant or could become pregnant in the next month should not be vaccinated, but should contact their obstetrician instead.

Parking will be available in the lots west and north of the Rec Center. Upon arrival look for signage and enter from the west entrance near the Boilermaker Aquatic Center. Please wear loose-fitting clothing, such as a T-shirt, that will make it easier to expose your upper arm all the way to the shoulder in order to administer the vaccination.

Purdue on Wednesday (April 6) announced that five confirmed or suspected mumps cases were being investigated on the West Lafayette campus. The university continues to work with the Tippecanoe County Health Department and the Indiana State Department of Health to identify and directly notify anyone who may have been in close contact with these cases.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms for mumps include fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, loss of appetite, and swollen and tender salivary glands under the ears on one or both sides. Mumps is spread from direct and indirect contact with an infected person's respiratory droplets, which can be transmitted by sneezing and coughing. People with mumps can spread the infection for up to two days before and five days after the onset of symptoms. Practicing good hygiene habits - such as regularly washing your hands with soap and water; sneezing and coughing into a tissue or your elbow; and avoiding the sharing of drinks, food and utensils - is a good way to prevent illness and transmission.

Additionally, if you believe you may have symptoms of mumps, isolating yourself from contact with others and seeking care as soon as possible could prevent additional spread of mumps.

Students, faculty or staff with symptoms - even if they have received a MMR vaccine - are strongly encouraged to stay home and avoid contact with others to prevent the further spread of illness and to seek care as soon as possible. Please call ahead before going to an urgent care or the Purdue Student Health Center. If students have concerns about possible symptoms they should contact the Purdue Student Health Center or their primary-care provider. Information about the Student Health Center is available at http://www.purdue.edu/push/.

Media contact: Craig Rich, Tippecanoe County Board of Health administrator, crich@tippecanoe.in.gov