Monkeypox

Overview

Stonehill College Health Services personnel are actively monitoring monkeypox information and will continue to provide updates as more information from the CDC, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and Easton Board of Health becomes available.

Signs and Symptoms

A person may experience many or only a few of the following symptoms: fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, fatigue, congestion, cough, sore throat, and rash. Infected persons may develop a rash consisting of one or multiple lesions. The rash associated with monkeypox may be located on the genitals, hands, feet, chest, or face, and may be painful or itchy. The rash goes through many phases and may appear as blisters or scabs. 

If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, please seek medical advice from Health Services by calling 508-565-1307 or your primary care provider.

Testing

Currently, the only way to test for monkeypox is if an individual presents with lesions. Lesions can be swabbed and sent for testing during different stages of healing. 

Testing is available at Health Services. If you or someone you know is experiencing a rash as described above, please contact Health Services by calling 508-565-1307, your primary care provider, or a local clinic to be tested.

Transmission

Monkeypox is most commonly spread through skin-to-skin contact, including but not limited to sexual intimacy. Sharing soiled linens, towels, or clothing may also result in transmission. Monkeypox can also be transmitted through respiratory secretions, though researchers are still determining the extent to which this occurs. You cannot contract monkeypox from a brief conversation or by walking by an infected individual.

Contact Tracing

At this time, close contacts are not required to quarantine, according to the CDC and the MA Department of Public Health. However, individuals who have had a high-risk exposure are eligible for post-exposure vaccination and should monitor themselves for symptoms for the following 21 days.

Close contacts will be identified by the Stonehill College medical team in conjunction with the MA Department of Public Health and Easton Board of Health through in-depth interviews with infected persons. Contacts will be notified via a phone call from the Stonehill College medical team and instructed on how to obtain a vaccine.

Vaccination

There are currently certain criteria that individuals must meet to be eligible for the vaccine defined by the CDC. Currently, the vaccine is only available for those who are close contacts of someone who has been diagnosed with monkeypox and those who are more likely to get monkeypox. 

If someone is a close contact to someone who has a diagnosis of monkeypox, the CDC recommends that the vaccine be given within four days from the date of exposure to prevent onset of the disease. The CDC states that if the vaccine is given four to fourteen days after the date of exposure, vaccination may reduce the symptoms of disease, but may not prevent the disease. Vaccination sites in Massachusetts can be found here.

If you are identified as a close contact, you will be notified and provided with information to obtain a vaccine.

Treatment & Isolation

Currently, there are no treatments specifically for monkeypox. The monkeypox and smallpox viruses are genetically similar, which means that some antiviral drugs that are used for smallpox may be used for monkeypox to prevent and treat monkeypox. For questions or requests for antiviral medication, please contact your primary care provider.

People infected with monkeypox are required to isolate until lesions are fully healed and new skin is developing. Isolation could last two to four weeks, and the individual diagnosed with monkeypox will be evaluated frequently by a public health official to assess the healing stages of the disease.

Prevention

There are steps that you should take to prevent getting monkeypox. Avoid skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like monkeypox. This means avoid touching the rash or scabs of others, along with avoiding any kissing, hugging, cuddling or sexual interaction with someone who has been diagnosed with monkeypox. Avoid contact with objects and materials that a person who has been diagnosed with monkeypox has used. This means not sharing eating utensils or cups, and any bedding, towels or clothing of someone who has been diagnosed with monkeypox. 

It is important to practice hand hygiene. Avoid touching your face before handwashing or the use of hand sanitizer. Always wash your hands after using the bathroom and before eating.

Additional Information

For more information, please visit the CDC Resource for monkeypox. If you have questions, you may contact Stonehill College Health Services by phone at 508-565-1307 or via email at Health-Services@stonehill.edu.