Dear students,
As discussed in recent news, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is tracking an outbreak of a viral infection called monkeypox that has spread into several countries that don’t normally report monkeypox, including the United States. August 4, the US Health and Human Services Director declared the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency.
We are continuing to monitor information from the World Health Organization, the CDC and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. We will use guidance from these agencies in our response to individual cases and community concerns. Please refer to the CDC website for ongoing updates and alerts.
What is monkeypox?
Monkeypox is a viral infection (in the family of smallpox; no relation to chicken pox!) that causes general malaise and a characteristic rash that is often painful.
Monkeypox has an incubation period of up to 21 days (the usual is one to two weeks); the incubation period is the time from exposure to the virus until the infection develops.
Often, a monkeypox infection causes the non-respiratory symptoms typical of flu (fevers, body aches, malaise) and may have swollen lymph nodes. Then the infected person develops the rash that may look like pimples or blisters; these can occur on the face, in the mouth or on the hands/feet, genitals/anus or trunk. Some people only develop the rash without the prodromal flu-like illness. The lesions are often painful and progress through stages of flat red spots, to red pimple-like bumps, to blisters to pus-filled blisters (pustules), before they scab and fall off.
An infected person is considered infectious until all the lesions have fully healed, which usually takes about two to four weeks.
How does one get monkeypox?
Monkeypox is transmitted by direct contact between a person’s skin with the monkeypox rash lesions (including lesions or body fluid); fomites, that may be in items that touched the infected person’s rash lesions (like bedding, clothing) or through large respiratory droplets after prolonged face-to-face contact.
Monkeypox is NOT as contagious as COVID-19 or influenza because the main route is direct skin to lesion contact, not the respiratory route. Also, people infected with monkeypox have symptoms during their infectious period, people can take precautions to lessen the spread.
How do you diagnose monkeypox?
Monkeypox is highly suspected in patients presenting with the typical rash and known exposure to someone with monkeypox or a typical rash. A test of the lesions can be sent to the state public health lab &/or another lab facility to identify if the monkeypox virus (a non-variola orhtopoxvirus) is present. Other infections can mimic the rash and should be considered in a person presenting with similar lesions (ie herpes, secondary syphilis, shingles).
Is there a treatment for monkeypox?
People with competent immune systems are likely to recover over the course of two to four weeks without any treatment.
While there is no FDA approved medication treatment for monkeypox, an antiviral medication used to treat small pox (Tecovirimat or TPOXX) can be prescribed to ease the burden of symptoms, but it is reserved for those with greater risk (i.e., compromised immune systems, complications of monkeypox or eye infections).
Additionally, administering the vaccine for monkeypox within four days of exposure can prevent an infection or significantly reduce.
What should I do if I have had exposure, or have symptoms?
Students exposed to someone with monkeypox should phone Health Services (413-538-2121) to discuss their exposure, risks and determine plan for post-exposure vaccine, if medically indicated.
Students with a rash that could be monkeypox should phone Health Services (413-538-2121) to schedule an appointment to have their rash evaluated and tested.
Until monkeypox is ruled out, a person with symptoms should wear a surgical mask (or better) when around others and keep their rash covered.
Health Services is able to test specific lesions, as well as evaluate a student for other causes of a concerning rash. If appropriate, we can coordinate treatments, facilitate isolation plans, and offer other supportive care.
Faculty and staff should contact their primary healthcare providers with questions or concerns related to monkeypox.
Can anyone get a vaccine for monkeypox before they are even exposed?
There is one FDA approved monkeypox vaccine, JYNNEOS (also known as Imvamune or Imvanex). Another has received FDA emergency & research approval to help combat the current outbreaks.
Because there is a limited supply of the JYNNEOS, it is being reserved for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)—meaning administered within four days to people who were exposed to monkeypox to prevent them from developing the infection. PEP administration up to 14 days following exposure can also help decrease illness severity.
The supply to use for pre-exposure prevention (PrEP strategy) is being distributed to states/regions where there is higher incidence of infection and reserved for those at higher risk of contracting monkeypox based on exposure risk.
We look forward to welcoming you safely to campus in just a few short weeks. Please take care and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions.
Cheryl Flynn
Director of Health Services
Mount Holyoke College
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