UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Department of Health has confirmed that a student at Penn State's University Park campus tested positive for monkeypox on Aug. 13. The patient resides off campus, has been seen by health care providers, and is currently isolating and recovering.

University Health Services (UHS), a unit of Penn State Student Affairs, contacted the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and, together, they continue to monitor the case. Close contacts of the student have been identified and notified through contract tracing conducted by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Monkeypox is a viral infection primarily spread through prolonged close contact. It is not a sexually transmitted disease. Symptoms of monkeypox include fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes. To date, there have been no deaths reported in the United States due to the monkeypox virus. In most cases, monkeypox resolves on its own without prescription medicine.

Monkeypox often begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, a general feeling of discomfort and exhaustion. Typically, within one to three days after the fever occurs, the patient develops a rash, often first on the face but sometimes initially on other parts of the body.

Due to the current U.S. outbreak of the virus, which began in spring 2022, the University urges students to take precautions against monkeypox and to self-isolate and contact UHS or their health care provider if they develop symptoms. Students can also call the 24/7 Advice Nurse at 814-865-4UHS (4847) and press 3.

Transmission and prevention

Since monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted infection (STI), it can be spread outside of sexual interactions. It can also be contracted by all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. It spreads in four main ways:

• Direct contact with monkeypox rash, scabs or body fluids.
• Direct contact with respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact or during intimate physical contact, such as kissing, cuddling or sex.
• Direct contact with objects or fabrics that previously touched the rash or body fluids of someone with monkeypox.
• Being scratched or bitten by an infected animal.

The virus is contagious from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed, which can take two to four weeks.

To protect against monkeypox, students and others should avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like monkeypox. Other precautions include:

• Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with monkeypox.
• Do not kiss, hug, cuddle or have sex with someone with monkeypox.
• 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.

What to do if you contract monkeypox

UHS advises University Park students who develop symptoms of monkeypox to schedule an appointment with UHS or call the 24/7 Advice Nurse at 814-865-4UHS (4847) and press 3. Commonwealth Campus students should visit their campus health center or other health care provider for next steps and testing. Students with an active rash or symptoms should self-isolate at home and stay in a separate room away from other people or pets when possible.

Faculty and staff with monkeypox symptoms should stay home from work and contact their health care provider for testing or other next steps. Employees who test positive should isolate at home, away from others in their household, and make arrangements to work remotely if possible or utilize sick time until their isolation period has concluded.

Anyone who may have been in contact with a person with a case of monkeypox should monitor their health closely, watch for symptoms and contact UHS or their health care provider to schedule an appointment if symptoms appear.

In most cases, monkeypox resolves on its own without prescription medicine. Occasionally, prescription medicine may be recommended based on the location or severity of the rash or if a patient has other immune-system-compromising conditions. Vaccines may be available for people who have been exposed to monkeypox and people who are at higher risk of being exposed to monkeypox.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health is overseeing the monkeypox vaccine supply and coordinating vaccination distribution to allow people who need it most to access the vaccine.