Monkeypox

Students who have signs and symptoms of monkeypox, should contact Health and Wellness Services at 570-408-4370 or campus ext. 4730.

Wilkes University is carefully monitoring the rise of monkeypox throughout the United States and Pennsylvania. The monkeypox virus is primarily spreading mostly through close, intimate contact with someone who has monkeypox.

Symptoms

The most notable symptom of monkeypox is a painful or itchy rash that may initially look like pimples or blisters. Other symptoms of monkeypox can include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Exhaustion
• Muscle aches and backache
• Headache
• Respiratory symptoms (e.g. sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough)

Monkeypox symptoms usually start within 3 weeks of exposure to the virus. If someone has flu-like symptoms, they will usually develop a rash 1 to 4 days later. It can be spread from the time symptoms start until the rash has healed, all scabs have fallen off, and a fresh layer of skin has formed. The illness typically lasts 2 to 4 weeks.

Take the following steps to prevent getting monkeypox:

• Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like monkeypox.
  • Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with monkeypox.
  • Do not kiss, hug, cuddle or have sex with someone with monkeypox.
• Avoid contact with objects and materials that a person with monkeypox has used.
  • Do not share eating utensils or cups with a person with monkeypox.
  • Do not handle or touch the bedding, towels or clothing of a person with monkeypox.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially before eating or touching your face and after you use the bathroom.

More information about monkeypox

Students who have signs and symptoms of monkeypox, should contact Health and Wellness Services at 570-408-4370 or campus ext. 4730.