OHIO provides update on monkeypox (MPV) outbreak

The below is a message to the Ohio University community.

Dear OHIO community,

You likely have seen news about monkeypox (MPV) being identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and the Centers for Disease Control’s guidance for assessing and treating the virus.

Although we have no known cases at OHIO, we are closely monitoring the spread of MPV and are working with state and local public health partners to guide our community response to the virus.

Although it’s challenging to face yet another complex public health issue, this virus is much less transmissible than COVID and thus is less likely to cause the same level of disruption to campus activities. There are no known cases in Athens County or the counties in which our regional campuses are located. This means the relative risk to our University community is currently low.

The majority of cases in Ohio are currently in Columbus and Cleveland. As of Sept. 6, 2022, there were 20,733 cases in the United States and 210 cases in Ohio, with one reported death in the U.S.

Across the U.S., most cases have been spread through sexual activity, and the rates are highest among people with multiple sex partners.  It is important to note that although cases are currently high among men who have sex with men, it is not exclusive to that population and is not exclusively transmitted via sexual contact. Any extended skin to skin contact with an infected person places individuals at risk, and you are highly unlikely to get MPV through limited interaction such as a handshake or from surfaces.

While there are currently no reported MPV cases at OHIO, we are preparing to be proactive given that some university campuses across the country have already experienced cases. As the virus progresses, we may see homophobic stigma develop around MPV, which puts everyone's health at risk and can have long-lasting, negative consequences for the LGBTQ community; it is important for the OHIO community to understand the facts about MPV and interrupt stigma.

MPV is part of the same family as the smallpox virus but causes far less severe disease. There have been very few deaths due to MPV but the illness is very painful, can cause scarring and requires people who have it to isolate for a long period of time. Thus, it is important to take steps to reduce personal risk and to seek testing quickly if you have a known exposure and/or have symptoms. While some people develop flu-like symptoms, the hallmark of the infection is a rash. For a detailed description of symptoms, please visit the CDC website. If you experience these symptoms, or have been exposed, please see a provider. Athens campus students should schedule an appointment at Campus Care, all others should contact their provider or go to an urgent care. Individuals who have been exposed are eligible for a vaccine. Please note, when you see your provider, you must wear a mask and keep the rash covered.

We have prepared a website with more information. Please take a moment to review this information and take the necessary precautions.

While it is our hope that we will not have cases on campus, we have plans in place to manage the disease in the event that we do.

Wishing you all a healthy semester,

Gillian Ice
Special Assistant to the President for Public Health Operations

Kenneth Johnson
Chief Medical Affairs Officer and Executive Dean, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine