Measles, mumps, and the flu are causing concerns within the United States, Indiana, and right here in Bloomington. In the last month, the number of mumps cases on IU’s campus doubled from three to six, the CDC declared that measles cases surged to the second highest level in almost two decades, and Monroe County is tied for the second statewide in flu-related deaths. 

Some students are not concerned. Allison Langhans, an IU senior, has never been vaccinated and plans to keep it that way.

“I didn’t really like vaccinations and I actually just never got them and it was fine. They’re unethical and just really not safe for us so I definitely don’t and I don’t want to get my kids vaccinated either,” Langhan said.

However, an overwhelming number of studies show that vaccines are safe. Both mumps and measles can be prevented with the MMR vaccine. 

 

However, three more cases of mumps broke on IU’s campus this week. Two of the patients were in contact with each other when they were diagnosed. Two of the patients live off campus while the other lives in a fraternity house on campus. The university is offering a free clinic to get an extra MMR vaccine for the members of the fraternity house. IU spokesperson Chuck Carney says that the university is not concerned about the outbreak affecting the campus as a whole.

“Six cases out of the entire population of students here at Indiana University Bloomington is still fairly small and the state department of health feels like at this point there is no need to have a campus-wide clinic,” Carney said.

 

Just last week, Indianapolis issued a warning that two businesses were also exposed to measles.

 

Monroe County is also tied for second in the state with six flu deaths.

 

Michelle Moyd, an IU professor, lost her friend to the flu last year.

“She got sick and very quickly sort of went into shock and passed away shortly thereafter,” Moyd said.

The IU health center reports 443 cases of the flu at IU this year.

“I get frustrated with people who say I got sick with the flu virus, the flu virus doesn’t do anything, look at all these people who get the flu anyway,” Moyd said.

Measles cases have also spiked in the US. The worst outbreak since 2000 is prompting crackdowns in several states. A town in New York is banning unvaccinated people from public areas.

Whether you are vaccinated or not, health experts say the best way to prevent disease is to wash your hands often and to avoid contact with infected people.