MMR is usually given to toddlers

Students from the UK, including 16 from Coventry University and 23 from Warwick, took part in the Sports Party 2004 Games held in Spain in April.

A student came down with the infection during the event at the Spanish resort of Lloret de Mar.

There have been recent outbreaks of mumps on campuses in Derby and York.

The Department of Health has written to the relevant primary care trusts (PCTs) recommending that students exposed to the viral infection be vaccinated.

Extra precaution

They are also being advised to consider offering the MMR jab to all those students who have not had one, as an extra precaution.

Dr David Salisbury, of the Department of Health's immunisation and communicable disease team, said in a letter to PCTs:

"In order to limit the spread of mumps in students in the UK, opportunistic vaccination of all at-risk students at 41 universities affected should be considered.

"This should include those students returning from the event in Spain and their close contacts.

"Consideration may also need to be given to offering protection to all students who have not previously received two doses of mumps-containing vaccine."