What precautions should students take with monkeypox? Campus health experts explain.

Every semester for the past two years, universities have adjusted campus operations and implemented new rules to help protect students and employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year, as college officials are scaling some of those rules back, the monkeypox virus is spreading in cities across the nation and in North Carolina.

How are campuses preparing for a potential monkeypox outbreak? Are college students more at risk of contracting the disease? What do students and their parents need to know about the symptoms and spread of the virus?

N.C. State University, Duke University, UNC-Chapel Hill and N.C. Central University provide resources about monkeypox and answers to frequently asked questions online.

Here are answers to questions based on that information, as well as interviews with campus health experts Dr. Amir Barzin at UNC and Dr. Julie Casani at N.C. State.

What is monkeypox?

Monkeypox is a disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. It is much more difficult to contract than COVID-19 and is rarely fatal, but can last two to four weeks.

Symptoms include a rash that looks like pimples or blisters. The rash may be painful or itchy and turn into scabs. It may be located on or near the genitals or anus, as well as hands, feet, chest, face or mouth.

Someone might also have a fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, exhaustion, sore throat, congestion, cough and swollen lymph nodes.

Unlike COVID-19, monkeypox is only spread by contact with individuals who have symptoms, which usually appear 7–14 days after exposure.

There will probably be cases on college campuses, but an outbreak is a lot less likely than with COVID-19 based on what we know about how it spreads and the fact that individuals with monkeypox can be easily identified and quarantined.

What should students do to avoid monkeypox?

Monkeypox is spread through non-sexual or intimate close contact, including sex, cuddling, kissing, hugging and sleeping next to someone. At this time, national and local cases show the infection is mostly linked to men who have sex with men. But anyone can get it.

Someone can also get monkeypox by having direct, skin-to-skin contact with the infectious rash or scabs or touching items such as clothing, bedding or towels that have been used by someone with monkeypox.

It’s still unclear whether there’s added risk in dorms or apartment buildings. It’s possible to get it from surfaces but not probable. And students don’t have to be fearful of getting it by sitting next to someone in a classroom or dining hall.

In addition to washing your hands often with soap and water or using hand sanitizer, UNC-CH suggests avoiding parties or clubs where attendees wear minimal clothing.

Is there a vaccine?

Yes, the monkeypox vaccine JYNNEOS can prevent or reduce the severity of the disease and is approved for individuals 18 and older. Vaccines are available for certain individuals at some North Carolina health departments and other health clinics, including at Duke Health on campus, UNC Health and N.C. State University.

Who is eligible?

▪ Anyone who had close contact in the past two weeks with someone who has been diagnosed with monkeypox.

▪ Men who have sex with men or transgender individuals who in the past 90 days have had multiple sex partners or anonymous sex, been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection or received medications to prevent HIV infection (PrEP).

What if you think you’ve been exposed?

Students who are sick or find a new rash should not go to class or other campus activities until they go to campus health, where they can get evaluated, tested and vaccinated. They should also wear a mask around other people and keep the rash covered.

People who have been exposed to the virus are not required to quarantine, but should look out for symptoms for 21 days and check their temperature twice a day.

Employees with a fever and new onset rash are also instructed not to come to work and to see a doctor.

What if you get monkeypox?

After a diagnosis from a doctor, students who have monkeypox should isolate themselves or return home. That isolation period is dependent on how long the rash lasts, which could be 2 weeks or longer.

N.C. State will have isolation space and support services for students who need it. Students should isolate themselves in place or return home. The CDC offers detailed instructions on isolation, hygiene, cleaning and masking.

University staff will work to identify close contacts to try to prevent further spread, which should be an easier task than with COVID-19.