First case of Monkeypox reported at SDSU

USD Health Center comments on Monkeypox procedures

WILL SCADDEN / ASST. NEWS EDITOR / THE USD VISTA

As school started last week, so did the spread of a disease at another college in San Diego. A student at San Diego State University (SDSU) tested positive for Monkeypox, SDSU reported on Thursday, Sept. 1. The student is currently living off-campus and has limited access to on-campus facilities, to help prevent a potential spread of the disease. This is the first known case of Monkeypox among SDSU’s community. 

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Monkeypox is primarily spread through close, physical, skin-to-skin contact with another person who is carrying the disease. Monkeypox can be contracted through brief physical contact with someone’s clothes, sheets or pets if they have recently tested positive. It’s important to note that this virus can be spread beyond skin-to-skin contact, including everyday interactions. 

To test for Monkeypox, there must be an active rash or lesion, which most often appear as scabs, pimples or blisters.

Symptoms of Monkeypox can include fevers, headaches, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, sore throat, coughing and rashes or lesions.

Stephanie Lynch, the Director for Health Promotion at the Center of Health and Wellness explained what to do if a student thinks they may be positive for Monkeypox.

“We know that students can become infected, and we want students to know that support is available through the Health Center and Timely Care,” Lynch said.

The Student Health Center can monitor and test for Monkeypox, and health providers in the county are providing free vaccinations. San Diego County has a limited supply of vaccines and is currently vaccinating “at-risk” individuals. Appointments are required, and students can call the Health Services at 2-1-1 to see if they are eligible to make an appointment.

While Monkeypox is a viral disease, it has much lower transmissibility than airborne illnesses, such as COVID-19. Prevention strategies include: avoiding close contact with other people with sores or rashes, frequently washing your hands with soap or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. 

Lynch explained how to stay safe from the disease, and quarantine is a solution for a positive Monkeypox case.

“Really the biggest thing to do is to limit skin-to-skin contact with other people,”  Lynch said.  “If a student did test positive for Monkeypox, the key prevention method is isolation. Student Wellness could help treat and isolate them.” 

Lynch spoke on how the treatment for a potential case of Monkeypox would be handled on a “case-by-case” basis, according to the student’s living situation. She mentioned that if a student tested positive and was living on-campus in close proximity to another student, they could work with Student Wellness to isolate themselves. If a student living off-campus tested positive, they could still receive care from Student Wellness but would be asked to isolate themselves and to limit their time spent on campus. 

USD junior Beck Chrisbens doubts Monkeypox will stay contained to SDSU but trusts that USD is equipped to handle the disease.

“I feel like, if it’s at SDSU, it will end up here eventually,” Chrisbens said. “I think that USD has good health and safety protocols, so I’m not all too worried.”

While there is no clear-cut response plan to a possible Monkeypox outbreak, USD is adhering to all CDC, state and county health guidelines.There are currently no health restrictions in the state or county for Monkeypox, and students can work with USD to isolate themselves if they contract the disease.

Similar to Chrisbens, USD senior Stone Martin is not concerned.

“I’m not too worried about Monkeypox,” Martin said. “I know it is mainly spread through skin-to-skin contact, so I feel as if a huge outbreak is less likely. If someone does get sick, they can just avoid people for a while.” 

There have been no cases of Monkeypox reported here at USD, yet members of the Health and Wellness Department have taken precautions for a potential spread. The Health and Wellness Department sent an email on the first day of school, alerting students of the disease, and included prevention strategies and resources for students worried about the possible spread. 

To learn more about Monkeypox or USD’s prevention strategies against it, visit USD’s Health and Wellness website.