College health centers in the Midwest are urging students to take special precautions to limit the spread of the mumps after several dozen students contracted the disease at both the University of Kansas and Loras College, in Dubuque, Iowa. The mumps outbreak, which health experts say they believe originated in Dubuque, is the largest epidemic of the disease in the United States since 1988. Although most colleges require students to be vaccinated against the mumps, 5 to 10 percent of people who receive the vaccine do not become immune to the disease.

Mumps vaccinations will be available on two campuses in Iowa next week, at Hamilton College and at North Iowa Area Community College, according to the Globe Gazette, an Iowa newspaper. See an Associated Press article for more on the outbreak.

An essay in The Chronicle Review two years ago urged colleges to adopt strong policies on vaccination as a means of avoiding a range of risks.