The University of Southern Maine has banned approximately 400 unvaccinated students from its campus after a student was confirmed to have contracted a case of mumps, according to a report by the Associated Press (AP).
In the report, Dr. Dora Anne Mills, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control, said that eight mumps cases had now been confirmed in the state, and that 35 other cases were suspected.
The 426 banned students had not been completely vaccinated against the disease. According to the AP, the college said that these students would not be allowed in classes, except for those who were medically exempt. They would be issued passes that allowed attendance.
A Bowdoin College employee was confirmed to have contracted a case of the mumps earlier this fall. However, college health officials said that only 10 students had not been fully vaccinated against the disease. Those students were contacted and encouraged to take the vaccine.