The health centre at the University of Limerick has suspended routine appointments over the bank holiday weekend after 24 cases of mumps were confirmed on campus since the start of the month.
In the past week 14 cases were confirmed, bringing the total number of students diagnosed with the illness since March 4th to 24.
A number of steps have been taken by the university to deal with those affected and particular student groups have been targeted for vaccination.
These include students of business, linguistics, mechanical engineering, law, insurance studies and public administration, electronic engineering and biomedical engineering.
Staff from the Health Service Executive, Mid-Western Area, have been on campus all week and will also be present next week to vaccinate these groups, along with staff and other students who have had contact with those in the "targeted groups".
Vaccination is being offered to anyone who shares accommodation with those who have mumps, and also to staff and students who are uncertain as to their immunity to the disease.
The Student Health Centre has suspended routine appointments over this weekend to allow staff to concentrate on providing diagnosis and advice.
According to Jeremy Callaghan, director of student affairs at UL, any urgent appointments will be accommodated.
"Obviously any urgent cases will be dealt with, but all other routine appointments have been suspended just for a couple of days to allow staff to concentrate on providing diagnosis and advice on the mumps," explained Mr Callaghan.
In an e-mail to all staff and students yesterday the Student Health Service said the increase in the number of cases over the past four days was to be expected given the incubation period for the disease of 14 to 21 days.
Mumps is an acute viral disease that is spread by coughing or sneezing.
It usually occurs in children between the ages of five and 15 years. However, the disease can also affect adults.
Symptoms of mumps include fever and swelling or tenderness of one or more of the salivary glands in the cheeks or under the jaw.