Basics
What is monkeypox?
Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. Monkeypox virus is part of the same family of viruses as variola virus, the virus that causes smallpox. Monkeypox symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms, but milder, and monkeypox is rarely fatal.
Are there different types of monkeypox?
Monkey Pox is a viral zoonotic disease that occurs primarily in tropical rainforest areas of central and west Africa and can be exported to other areas of the world.
Is monkeypox deadly?
Infections with the type of monkeypox virus identified in this outbreak are rarely fatal. Over 99% of people who get this form of the disease are likely to survive. However, people with weakened immune systems, children under 8 years of age, people with a history of eczema, and people who are pregnant or breastfeeding may be more likely to get seriously ill or die.
Other strains of the monkeypox virus have a fatality rate around 10%.
When should someone get tested for monkeypox?
People who think they have monkeypox or have had close personal contact with someone who has monkeypox should visit a healthcare provider to help them decide if they need to be tested for monkeypox.
Students should call the SU Student Health Center at 570–372–4385 during normal business hours; or dial the on-call nurse triage service toll-free at 1–844–936–1731 after business hours.
If it is decided that you should be tested, they will work with you to collect the specimens and send them to a laboratory for testing.
Symptoms
What are the symptoms of monkeypox?
Symptoms of monkeypox can include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches and backache
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Chills
- Respiratory symptoms (e.g. sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough)
- A rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appears on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals or anus.
- The rash goes through different stages before healing completely. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks.
Sometimes, people get a rash first, followed by other symptoms. Others only experience a rash.
Learn more about monkeypox signs and symptoms and view photos of rashes.
What should I do if I have symptoms?
If you notice a new or unexplained rash or other monkeypox symptoms:
- Students must call the SU Student Health Center at 570–372–4385 during normal business hours; or dial the on-call nurse triage service toll-free at 1–844–936–1731 after business hours. Students will be instructed on testing and next steps.
- Students with an active rash or symptoms must self-isolate at home. Students who live on campus will be required to move into an isolation space — and because the isolation period can be up to four weeks, students should expect to make arrangements to complete their isolation at home. Student Life staff will work with individuals who are unable to travel.
- Students who must isolate are responsible for contacting their professors and discussing academic concerns. The university can notify professors about a potentially lengthy absence but cannot disclose protected health information.
- Faculty and staff should contact their healthcare provider for testing or other next steps. Employees who test positive must isolate at home and make arrangements to work remotely, if possible, or utilize sick time until their isolation period has concluded.
- Avoid close contact (including intimate physical contact) with others until you see a healthcare provider.
- Avoid close contact with pets or other animals until you see a healthcare provider.
- If you’re waiting for test results, follow the same precautions.
- If your test result is positive, stay isolated and observe other prevention practices until your rash has healed, all scabs have fallen off and a fresh layer of intact skin has formed.
- Remain isolated if you have a fever, sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough. Only go out to see a healthcare provider or for an emergency. Avoid public transportation.
- If you must leave isolation, cover the rash and wear a well-fitting mask.
Spread
How does monkeypox spread?
Monkeypox can spread from person to person through direct contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids. It also can be spread by respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact, or during intimate physical contact, such as kissing, cuddling, or sex.
Monkeypox can spread from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed. Anyone in close personal contact with a person with monkeypox can get it and should take steps to protect themselves.
Learn more about how monkeypox spreads.
Is monkeypox a sexually transmitted infection?
Sex is just one of the ways that monkeypox can be spread. In the past, monkeypox outbreaks have been linked to direct exposure to infected animals and animal products, with limited person-to-person spread. In the current monkeypox outbreak, the virus is spreading primarily through close personal contact. This may include contact with infectious lesions or respiratory secretions via close, sustained skin-to-skin contact that occurs during sex. However, any close, sustained skin-to-skin contact with someone who has monkeypox can spread the virus. The contact does not have to be exclusively intimate or sexual.
Learn more about lowering your risk of monkeypox during sex.
Prevention
How can monkeypox be prevented?
- Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like monkeypox.
- Avoid contact with objects and materials that a person with monkeypox has used.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially before eating or touching your face and after you use the bathroom.
Learn more about preventing monkeypox.
Treatment
What treatments are available for monkeypox?
There are no treatments specifically for monkeypox virus infections. However, because of genetic similarities in the viruses, antiviral drugs used to treat smallpox may be used to treat monkeypox infections.
Learn more about monkeypox treatment.
Vaccination
Is there a vaccine to prevent monkeypox?
Because monkeypox and smallpox viruses are genetically similar, vaccines developed to protect against smallpox viruses may be used to prevent monkeypox infections.
The U.S. government has two stockpiled vaccines — JYNNEOS and ACAM2000 — that can prevent monkeypox in people who are exposed to the virus.
Learn more about monkeypox vaccines.
Who should get vaccinated?
CDC recommends vaccination for people who have been exposed to monkeypox and people who may be more likely to get monkeypox, including:
- People who have been identified by public health officials as a contact of someone with monkeypox.
- People who know one of their sexual partners in the past 2 weeks has been diagnosed with monkeypox.
- People who had multiple sexual partners in the past 2 weeks in an area with known monkeypox.
Where can you find out if you’re eligible for a vaccine?
If you think you may be eligible for vaccination, contact the SU Student Health Center or a healthcare provider. They can help you determine if you should get vaccinated.
Pets and Animals
Could my pet get monkeypox?
Monkeypox is zoonotic, meaning it can spread between animals and people. However, CDC does not currently believe that monkeypox poses a high risk to pets. We are continuing to monitor the situation closely.
Learn more about monkeypox and your pets in the home.
Information on this page was shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
