Kent State’s Monkeypox Management Plan
You may be aware the U.S. government recently declared monkeypox a public health emergency.
University health officials are monitoring this outbreak, and we encourage all of you to familiarize yourself with monkeypox and how it spreads to protect yourself and your loved ones. Kent State will continue to follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the advice of our local public health officials and the guidance of our experts at the College of Public Health to determine the best protocols for keeping our campuses and locations safe.
As we manage these ongoing public health issues, everyone must do their part to ensure the safety of our entire Kent State community. We encourage you to read and follow Kent State’s Safety Principles to maintain a healthy campus.
Questions About Monkeypox
Anyone with health questions about COVID-19, monkeypox or any other illness should call DeWeese Health Center at 330-672-2322, or after hours, contact the Kent State Nurse Line at 330-672-2326.
Symptoms
Monkeypox Symptoms
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), clinicians should be alert to patients presenting with a new characteristic rash or if the patient meets one of the epidemiologic criteria and there is a high clinical suspicion for monkeypox.
- Symptoms of monkeypox include a rash that can be on any part of the body, a fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, muscle aches and backache, a headache, or respiratory symptoms (e.g., sore throat, cough, congestion)
- You may have all or just a few of the symptoms
- The rash associated with monkeypox can be confused with other rashes encountered in clinical practice including herpes, syphilis, and varicella.
Testing
Testing for Symptomatic Monkeypox Cases
If the virus is suspected, a test will be performed to confirm.
Testing can be done at DeWeese and some off-campus sites including Portage Medical Center. Tests are sent to Quest Diagnostics or the Ohio Department of Health with test results returned within six days.
- A limited amount of vaccine for monkeypox is available and is being distributed by the Ohio Department of Health through local health departments.
- If you believe you are a close contact of someone diagnosed with monkeypox, call your local health department or DeWeese at 330-672-2322 to discuss your exposure and eligibility for a monkeypox vaccine.
Please refer to CDC’s Case Definitions for use in the 2022 Monkeypox Response.