THREE confirmed cases of students with mumps this term has led Kent University at Canterbury to set up a vaccination programme to ward off an epidemic.

A number of first years received the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) jab at the University’s medical centre last month. Further sessions will be arranged if necessary.

Registrar Nick McHard said: “The university’s priority is to protect the health and welfare of our students and staff and we are confident that the measures we have put in place are the best way to ensure this.”

All new students had been advised to get immunised before arriving for the start of term, and were also offered the jab at medical registration.

But the three confirmed cases that have arisen since, plus one other suspected one, led to the further MMR sessions being arranged.

Those aged 14 to 24 are particularly vulnerable, because most missed out on MMR when it was introduced in 1988.

Mumps causes fever, headaches and loss of appetite, and swelling and pain in cheek glands. On rare occasions in adolescent and adult males it can cause testicular swelling and even sterility. It can lead to female infertility by damaging ovaries.

All the mumps cases reported at Kent University are from this term’s first-year intake.

The MMR vaccination sessions at the campus were set up on the advice of Dr Mathi Chandrakumar and his colleagues at the Kent Health Promotion Agency.

The university is one of several in the country to adopt such measures.

At the Kent Institute of Art and Design and at Canterbury Christ Church University College no mumps cases have been reported.

However, the institutions are making students aware of what symptoms to look for and who to contact should they have any concerns.

Further information on mumps and the MMR vaccination is available from Kent University’s medical centre and website at www.kent.ac.uk/medical/hot.htm