Dear Users of Athletic Facilities,
Update: As of November 19, 2016 it has been reported to our Student Health Service that three more student-athletes have been confirmed to have the mumps. Unlike the previous cases of mumps, these student-athletes have come from some of our other sport programs (e.g. baseball, softball and men’s volleyball). Out of an abundance of caution, the department, in consultation with and guidance from campus administrators has taken the following steps:
- Canceled the men’s volleyball competition scheduled at Princeton University for Sunday, November 20, 2016.
- Suspended the remainder of the men’s volleyball non-traditional season through the fall semester.
- Continue to educate student-athletes and patrons of our facilities about the precautions that need to be taken to minimize the spread of the disease.
As you prepare to go home for the Thanksgiving holiday, we remind you to take appropriate precautions to reduce spread of this illness. Mumps are transmitted by close contact, sharing of utensils, drinking glasses, and saliva contact (kissing). Washing hands is recommended per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In an effort to inform our patrons, we remind you to please note the following:
- All SUNY New Paltz students are required to provide documentation of two measles, one rubella and one mumps immunization or provide documentation of a religious or other exemption.
- Mumps is caused by a respiratory virus, whose symptoms include painful swelling of the salivary glands near the ears and under the jaw, which can occur on one or both sides of the face. This swelling may be associated with other non-specific symptoms, such as fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue and decreased appetite.
- The transmission of mumps is through close contact, sharing of utensils, drinking glasses, and saliva contact. Washing hands is recommended per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Per campus protocol, the affected students, who had been immunized against mumps, have been isolated for the recommended period of time. A small number of students who have not been immunized have been sent home during the incubation period.
Immunizations work but are not 100% effective. If you plan to participate in programming offered by our department, please check your immunization records to ensure they are up to date.
Finally, we continue to ask for your support of our athletic program who continue to be most affected by this unfortunate set of circumstances. I ask that we keep them in mind as our campus community navigates this. We will continue to take all necessary precautions to ensure the health and safety of everyone.
Should there be any questions about our athletic facilities, please contact the department at (845) 257-3910.
Stuart Robinson
Director of Athletics, Wellness and Recreation
Dear New Paltz Swimming Student-Athletes and Parents,
Since Oct. 7, 2016, the College has been responding to cases of the mumps on campus. As of Dec. 7, 60 students have been confirmed to have the disease and nine of them have been members of the swim team. Through consultation with the New York State Health Department and the Ulster County Health Department and following the Center for Disease Control guidelines, the College has taken steps ensure the health and safety of our campus community as well as those in the local community who use our pool. In an effort to keep our student-athletes, their families and the patrons of our facility informed, we would like to provide the following update:
- We have now canceled three swim meets (e.g. at Ramapo College, at Hartwick College and at home vs Vassar College). With the latest disclosure of mumps coming on Thursday, Nov. 3, under advice of the above listed agencies, we will not permit the team to compete against other colleges and universities for the remainder of Fall of 2016 semester.
- We have contacted the NCAA in an effort to understand the impact on student-athlete eligibility and the season in general if the season is further compromised by this outbreak. The NCAA has informed us that at this point a season of eligibility has been used since the team did participate in a swim meet at Union College on October 22, 2016 and practiced subsequent to that meet. The Association also stated that it would be possible for the Athletic Department to apply for a waiver to restore the season of eligibility for all of the student-athletes due to extenuating circumstances. We intend to file for the waiver if the team is unable to compete this year. The NCAA also informed us late yesterday that allowing the team to resume practicing will not jeopardize the waiver if no further competitions are held.
- At no time has the swim team been quarantined. In accordance with guidance from the health agencies noted above, it was recommended that we temporarily postpone practices and team activities that brought the team together to assess the spread of the disease as well as take precautions to prevent a further spread of the mumps.
- Per campus protocol, the College continues to ensure that the affected students, who had been immunized against mumps, have been isolated for the recommended period of time. A small number of students who have not been immunized have been sent home during the incubation period.
We have received questions regarding our intercollegiate swimming program from some of you asking about next steps. The College, in consultation with the offices noted above, is taking the following additional measures regarding the swimming program:
- Allow non infected swimming student-athletes to return to practice and all team activities starting the morning of Monday, November 28, 2016. We are permitting this return knowing that further meets may be canceled and a season of eligibility may be lost.
- Counsel the team that they should strictly adhere to the healthy practices for protecting themselves from the mumps.
- Require that if any swimming student-athletes show signs of illness that they will go to the Student Heath Center to be examined.
We hope that this information has been helpful, and we appreciate your patience as we deal with this situation on campus. We will inform you promptly of any new developments that may affect you.
Sincerely,
Stuart Robinson
Director of Athletics, Wellness and Recreation
