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.

Learn more about monkeypox Symptoms

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.

Access Testing Information

Please refer to CDC’s Case Definitions for use in the 2022 Monkeypox Response.

Isolation

Suspected Cases

Isolation of Suspected Cases

Students in the residence halls presenting with a suspected case of monkeypox will be treated on a case by case basis regarding isolation. Students who choose to isolate on campus will be given an isolation room. Students can also choose to isolate at home.

Off Campus

Suspected cases (students, faculty, staff) who live off campus should make isolation plans with the local health department handling their case.

Questions

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.

Confirmed Cases

Isolation of Confirmed Case

Residence hall students who are confirmed cases can isolate on campus. They can also return to their permanent residence to isolate.
Residential students who choose to return to their permanent address will need to coordinate with the Kent City Health Commissioner on their travel.
Off-campus students will need to work with their local health department on an isolation plan.

Per the CDC

Patients with monkeypox should continue to isolate and follow prevention practices until cleared by public health officials after all lesions have resolved, the scabs have fallen off, and a fresh layer of intact skin has formed. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks. Decisions regarding discontinuation of isolation precautions at a healthcare facility should be made in consultation with the local or state health department. Please refer to CDC’s Isolation and Prevention Practices for People with Monkeypox.

Isolation Management

Contact Tracing for Individuals Exposed to Monkeypox

The Kent City Health Department will provide contact tracing for those who reside in the City of Kent, this includes students in on-campus and off-campus housing. Contacts who live in residence halls will be monitored for 21 days after last exposure to monkeypox case.

Contacts do not need to quarantine and as long as they remain asymptomatic can continue regular daily activities.

Contacts who become symptomatic will isolate according to CDC guidelines.

Cleaning Protocols

Cleaning a Suspected/Confirmed Case Regular Residence Hall Room and Immediate Area

Residence Halls Custodial staff are available to clean a residence hall room where a suspected or confirmed case resided. This will be coordinated between housing and custodial. Students can decline cleaning of their residence hall room. Cleaning supplies are available at areas desks for students who choose to clean their own spaces.

In addition to regular cleaning, residence hall common spaces will also be cleaned if a case has been identified to reside in a hall. These spaces include common areas and bathrooms. Custodial will follow standard procedures for cleaning rooms including wearing appropriate PPE (well-fitted mask or respirator, gown, gloves, and eye protection.

Cleaning Isolation Residence Halls (suspected and confirmed cases)

Custodial staff will clean and disinfect residence hall spaces in Verder for suspected and confirmed cases. Cleaning processes will follow CDC protocols. Spaces will be cleaned one to two times per day as needed. These spaces include bathrooms, laundry facilities, and other high touch surfaces.

Students in isolation will be given written instruction on how to clean personal and common spaces including bathrooms, laundry facilities, bedding and clothes, and high touch spaces (e.g., door handles).

Other Cleaning Considerations

Cleaning of areas where an individual with monkeypox has been living or isolating should be done according to CDC guidelines. Confirmed cases of monkeypox isolating in Verder should regularly clean their areas to limit contamination.

Isolating Alone in "Home" (i.e., isolation on campus in Verder):
- People with monkeypox who are isolating alone at home should regularly clean and disinfect the spaces they occupy, including commonly touched surfaces and items, to limit household contamination.
- Perform hand hygiene afterwards using an alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) that contains at least 60% alcohol, or soap and water if ABHR is unavailable.