 250 students were struck down by mumps last term |
New university students in Sheffield have been advised to get vaccinated to help guard against a fresh outbreak of mumps in the city. Last term about 250 students at the city's two universities contracted the virus with 10% being admitted to hospital.
Sheffield University has now written to all new students advising them to have the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination before the start of the new term in September.
Campuses are seen as breeding grounds for the disease which can be spread through saliva, coughs and sneezes.
Dr Rosie McNaught, consultant in communicable disease control for the Health Protection Agency, said that the 16-19 age group are particularly susceptible to mumps.
She said: "Those in the age group are doubly vulnerable to mumps because they were born just before the introduction of MMR and were unlikely to be exposed to natural infection."
Dr McNaught said that the controversial possible side effects of MMR are not a danger to people of university age.
A Sheffield University spokesman said: "Once someone has this disease it can spread easily among snogging students or housemates sharing bottles or cups."
About 7,000 students have so far taken part in a four-day vaccination programme at Sheffield University and Sheffield Hallam University.
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Once someone has this disease it can spread easily among snogging students 
