The Boston Globe has reported that four Northeastern University students may have the mumps, a once common childhood disease now thought to be virtually irrelevant because of the commonality of childhood vaccines.

The Globe, citing city public health officials, said that the results are not confirmed, but that two students came down with symptoms after returning from Ireland, where apparently a mumps outbreak has occurred.

All four students had been vaccinated against the disease, which is not 100 percent effective. The Globe says 10-20 percent of those vaccinated are still vulnerable to the disease.

Blast is Boston's Online Magazine