They should not have let us in

[filka]

I'm steaming mad...

Popped in to see our neighbours this evening, we live abroad so don't see them often, but are very friendly and they are helpful to us.

Welcomed in, air kiss on the way, mwa, sit down to chit-chat. After a few minutes they tell us that their son has come home from uni in Wales and had been in bed with mumps since Friday.

Even worse, he has had his MMR and booster. And someone else in his rowing team also had mumps before him, also having had MMR and booster. And when he went to the doctor, two of the staff had kids at uni in Wales who had caught mumps, also after MMR jobs.

Mumps is airborne and seems to have a gestation of about 2 weeks before any symptoms appear - so although the parents don't seem to be ill, they could nevertheless be infectious.

We both stripped off and had showers, clothes straight into the wash when we got home, minimising contact with our three kids (who had MMR jabs) and MIL (who hasn't).

AIBU to think that they should not have let us into the house, or (AINBU) am I being paranoid?

[kathmacc]

I am 55 and had mumps 2 weeks ago -including every facial gland swelling and ovary swelling. It is a really tough illness when older.

[Savingshoes]

Vaccinations don't necessarily stop you getting the disease. They reduce your symptoms and the severity of the illness.

I would have walked out saying "thanks for exposing us, our family and the entire flight we are about to board with the possibility of contracting mumps, we would be returning in the new year"

[AfterSchoolWorry]

Well, perhaps it'll give you pause for thought on your gung-ho proclivity for 'popping in' on people.

'Popping in' on people unannounced is a dick move.

[Lazyafternoons]

I remember having mumps as a child, DD obviously wasn’t bothered as he had had his children, he also had it as a teen and didn’t suffer any effects to his “can I have children”: as he’s now got 4 DC, but I do remember being in lots of pain when I had it.

[tempester28]

I had mumps as a child and your friends may have had it as children too if they are in their 40's. So would now be immune? I believe University age people who have had MMR as children have less protection, as I recently learned the protection of the vaccination decreases with time so by 18 they ought to be vaccinated again. The university may have told people to vaccinate, but not before they had already been infected.

Your younger vaccinated children should be well protected and the parents you were in contact with may be immune. Obviously this is all guesswork, but try not to panic. Yes they should have told you at the door so you could have decided whether or not to go into their house

[Aroundnabout1]

I say to people if ive got a bad cold, never mind mumps. They are idiots.

[MmmMalbec]

I always tell people if my kids have anything before they visit. It’s their choice if they want to risk it. You went round unannounced but if it was me, I would have told you on the doorstep!

[GabsAlot]

i had mumps when i was 8 and had the mmr-its more serious for males but as an adult i wouldnt worry if youre over a certain age

[halcyondays]

of course yanbu. If someone had mumps I would warn people off at the door. its not rude , its considerate. Nobody wants to catch it.

I wouldn't assume most adults have had it. I haven't , don't think dh has either. And we're too old to have had the MMR vaccine as children. I think it only came in around 1988? So people over 40, maybe younger won't usually have had it.

[MollyButton]

Apparently Mumps vaccine only lasts an average of 27 years, there are calls for an extra booster at 18.
But your children will be protected and your MIL may well have had Mumps as a child.

[PettyContractor]

What? Because nothing protects us from radiation better than a nice, hot shower and a load of laundry

So, in the movie "Silkwood", when the plutonium plant worker played by Meryl Streep sets off a radiation detector, and is subsequently naked in a shower, with space-suited co-workers scrubbing her skin with long-bristled brushes, that was just something made-up by Hollywood, with no basis in reality?

(I suppose the shower and clothes change is to get rid of radioactive material, maybe dust, that will be giving you a continuous dose of radiation for as long as it's on you. But my knowledge all comes from fiction, so what do I know.)

[PettyContractor]

[lljkk]

Let us know, @filka, if anything actually happens.