North country colleges react to Plattsburgh mumps cases

There have been only three confirmed cases of mumps at SUNY Plattsburgh, but area colleges are preparing for the disease, just in case.

The four colleges in St. Lawrence County are checking student immunization records and getting ready, although there have been no cases on any of the campuses.

"I don't get a sense of worry," SUNY Canton spokesman Gregory E. Kie said. "I think as soon as Plattsburgh made the announcement, it was 'OK, what do we need to do; we need to order the vaccine.'"

SUNY Canton has ordered extra supplies of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine for the campus health center, which arrived Friday. Other schools are not stocking up on the vaccine, however.

All of the colleges have gone through their records to find out how many students have not been vaccinated because of religious exemptions or how many people have received only one vaccine. The state Department of Health requires only one shot, but most people get a booster as well, Mr. Kie said.

At SUNY Plattsburgh, any students who had received only one shot were forced to leave campus until they were fully vaccinated or could prove they were producing antibodies for the disease, according to a press release from Richard F. Daines, state health commissioner.

Though there have been only three confirmed cases of mumps at Plattsburgh, there are several others under investigation, Mr. Daines said in the release. The source of the outbreak has not been identified.

Plattsburgh students who had received only one vaccine had to leave campus for 26 days after the last case was identified.

SUNY Potsdam is asking students to review their immunization records and get the second vaccine if they have not already had it, according to a press release. Clarkson University, Potsdam, is on spring break, but students will receive e-mails and information via the university Web site, spokesman Michael P. Griffin said. At St. Lawrence University, Canton, officials are monitoring the Plattsburgh cases before taking any direct action.

"I think that we would have to see some cases first. If it was that we knew we had a bunch of basketball games coming up against SUNY Plattsburgh, we would probably be a little more proactive," university spokeswoman Macreena A. Doyle said.

The incubation period for mumps is 12 to 25 days, and it is contagious three days before and five days after the onset of symptoms, according to DOH.