Mpox Toolkit for Institutions of Higher Education
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Who should use this toolkit? Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) administrators and staff members.
What is this toolkit about? This toolkit provides helpful resources for administrators, health centers, and students.
How should I use this toolkit? IHE administrators can find relevant key resources for their populations, including links to share with their health centers and students.
IHEs, including colleges and universities, should continue everyday operational practices to reduce the transmission of infectious diseases.
This includes:
- Encouraging students and staff to stay home when sick
- Allowing virtual options for students who are sick
- Ensuring access to adequate handwashing supplies
- Maintaining routine cleaning and disinfection practices, including cleaning of sports gear and laundering of uniforms
- Identifying spaces to isolate someone who is sick with an infectious disease
- Providing personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff who care for students with infectious diseases.
IHEs should work with their state or local health department to identify additional actions if they are notified of a case of or exposure to mpox at their IHE.
- Signs and SymptomsYou may experience flu-like symptoms before or after a rash, or you may only experience a rash. Learn more about the signs and symptoms and how long mpox lasts.
- How It SpreadsA person with mpox can spread it to others from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed. Some people have been found to have infection but no symptoms. To date, however, there is no evidence that mpox spreads from people with no symptoms. CDC will continue to monitor for new or changing information about transmission.
- PreventionLearn how you can make informed choices when in spaces or situations where mpox could be spread. Learn more about the recommended prevention steps to protect you and your community.
- VaccinesLearn the basics about mpox vaccination, including who should get vaccinated, where to get vaccinated, cost, and more.
- If You Are SickMpox typically lasts 2-4 weeks. Learn what you can do to take care of yourself as you recover, including managing symptoms and rash relief.
What Higher Education Administrators and Staff Need to Know
Higher education administrators and staff should:
- Follow the considerations for congregate settings
- Understand monitoring needed for exposed students and staff
- Use specific cleaning and disinfecting procedures when there is a person with mpox in an IHE
- Understand guidance for isolating students and staff with mpox infection
- Help reduce stigma around mpox
Staff can also review frequently asked questions for Schools, Early Care and Education Programs, and Other Settings Serving Children or Adolescents.
- Identifying key characteristics of mpox in students and staff
- How to prepare and label specimens collected for mpox testing
- Guidance for infection control for mpox in healthcare setting
- Understand who may benefit from vaccination
- Mpox Vaccine Equity Toolkit