High levels of students reporting mumps could be due to parents' worries about the vaccination, a local GP has said.
Hundreds of suspected cases of mumps have been reported across Nottingham's two universities.
Public Health England (PHE) is currently working with Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham following a number outbreaks within the two universities.
On Tuesday, March 26, PHE confirmed 40 cases of mumps and 220 suspected cases across the two sites.
Local GP, Irfan Malik, of Elmswood Surgery in Sherwood, said the rise in cases being reported was "significant".
He said: "The best way to protect yourself against MMR is to have both vaccines at a young age.
"This is a lesson for everyone really because it shows just how beneficial it is to have the vaccine at a young age.
"When these students were toddlers that is when some concerns were raised about the vaccine. There was a lot in the news which could have put the parents off giving them the vaccine.
"I have not seen a case whereby this many people have had mumps at one time. The numbers are quite significant so I think it all fits in with the concerns raised back in 1998."
Dr Malik encouraged all students to read up on the symptoms and follow advice from their GPs.
He added: "Mumps can spread quickly so if people do think they have the symptoms they should take advice from their GP immediately.
"If a student presents with no symptoms and they have not had the vaccine they should follow Public Health England advice and get the vaccine."
Richard Kramer, chief executive of national disability charity Sense, said the new cases of mumps was a huge concern.
The founders of Sense were parents whose children were born deafblind as a result of congenital rubella syndrome.
He said: "Since the MMR vaccine was introduced in 1988, it has become rare for children and young people in the UK to develop these serious conditions.
Hundreds struck down with suspected mumps across Nottingham
"However, outbreaks do happen, and alarmingly over the last five years we have seen a steady decline in vaccination uptake, fuelled by the spread of misinformation about vaccine safety on social media.
"We are calling on Public Health England to step up its campaign to encourage uptake of the MMR vaccination, and the government and social media companies to work together to crack down on anti-vaccination myths online, which pose a great risk to the public’s health.
"We urge parents to ensure they and their children are up-to-date with the MMR vaccination. School leavers and other young adults who have not received the MMR, or only received one dose, should ensure that they take up the offer of MMR vaccination.”
PHE is working with Nottingham Trent University, the University of Nottingham, Nottingham City Council and NHS partners following a number of cases of suspected mumps within the two universities.
Dr Vanessa MacGregor, consultant in health protection at PHE, said: “We have seen a rise in the figures recently and teenagers and young adults who have not had two doses of MMR vaccine are particularly vulnerable.
“School leavers and other young adults who have not received the MMR or only received one dose should ensure that they take up the offer of MMR vaccination.
“However, it’s not just students who are at risk and we would urge everyone who hasn’t received two doses of MMR vaccine to do so. MMR also gives immunity to measles and rubella.”
The usual symptoms are a painful inflammation and swelling of the salivary glands under one or both sides of the jaw, fever and headache.
Some people suffer complications that can include inflammation of the pancreas; viral meningitis (inflammation of the brain); inflamed and swollen testicles in men and ovaries in women. Mumps can also cause deafness.
To be fully protected, children and adults need to have two doses of the MMR vaccine.
If anyone is affected by these issues, contact www.sense.org.uk for more information.
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