All five of the MU students with confirmed cases of mumps had received the recommended measles, mumps and rubella or MMR vaccine.
The Boone County Department of Public Health confirmed the five cases of mumps Thursday. All five students are between the ages of 20 and 23.
Mumps is a virus that can cause fever, body aches, pain and swelling. Children are typically vaccinated for the disease at around one year, and again at 4 to 6 years. According to the Center for Disease Control, two doses are 88 percent effective at preventing the disease.
Andrea Waner, with the Boone County Department of Public Health, said that in light of the outbreak, the department is working to educate its community health partners.
"We're working with our community partners, so that could be local physicians, office urgent care, ER, that sort of thing," Waner said. "So that anytime somebody presents at their clinic with any sort of symptoms that sound similar to mumps, these physicians and nurses are able to think about mumps as one of the first possible outcomes, and then that way they can test it and treat it appropriately."
The university and the Boone County Health Department have been alerting Columbia residents and recent MU visitors about the breakout. Officials recommend that if you show symptoms of mumps, you should contact your medical provider and stay home for five days after symptoms begin.
