Monkeypox

Below are current college policies regarding Monkeypox as of Fall 2022. Please follow the guidance for the situation that applies to you.

Exposure

Students

• If you are a student and have been exposed to the Monkeypox virus, with no rash, please monitor your symptoms for 21 days and complete this form for Health Services: Monkeypox Reporting Form. You do not need to quarantine and can remain on campus. 
• If you are a student and have been exposed to the Monkeypox virus, with a rash, contact Health Services by calling 617-824-8666 and emailing healthservices [at] emerson.edu (healthservices[at]emerson[dot]edu) to report your exposure immediately. You should also notify your RD of the exposure if living on campus. You will then be moved to another location to isolate until there is a confirmed Monkeypox test result.
• Students with concerning symptoms will have a Telehealth visit with Health Services to discuss next steps. Those symptoms include:
  • New or unexplained skin rash (mouth, genitals, and body)    
    • Rash is the main symptom for transmission of virus
  • In addition to rash: fever, chills, fatigue, enlarged lymph nodes
• If you are a student with no known exposure to Monkeypox virus and develop an unexplained rash, contact Health Services by calling 617-824-8666 and emailing healthservices [at] emerson.edu (healthservices[at]emerson[dot]edu) for guidance. Students with concerning symptoms will have a Telehealth visit with Health Services to discuss next steps.

Faculty/Staff

• If you have been exposed to the Monkeypox virus and develop a rash, contact your primary care physician for medical guidance. It is recommended you isolate yourself from others and do not report to work until all lesions have resolved, scabs have fallen off and a fresh layer of intact skin has formed.
• Contact your manager or supervisor to report your absence.

If you have tested positive for Monkeypox:

Students

• Report your positive test results to Health Services at healthservices [at] emerson.edu (healthservices[at]emerson[dot]edu) or call 617-824-8666. Students will need to isolate for 2–4 weeks from their positive test results. 
• Isolation precautions should be continued until all lesions have resolved, scabs have fallen off and a fresh layer of intact skin has formed. Students are required to consult with health services through a TeleHealth visit prior to returning to the community.
• Students who test positive for Monkeypox and live on-campus will be moved to another location to isolate. Meal accommodations will be made for students who are in isolation. 
• Students will need to contact their professors to report their absence and make arrangements for their studies.

Faculty/Staff

• If you have tested positive for the Monkeypox virus, contact your primary care physician for medical guidance. Isolate for 2–4 weeks until all lesions have resolved, scabs have fallen off, and a fresh layer of intact skin has formed.
• Contact your manager or supervisor to report your absence.

Who are Close Contacts?

Students with a confirmed or suspected case of Monkeypox are advised to inform close contact according to the CDC guidelines.

A close contact includes anyone who, since the start of your monkeypox symptoms, you:

• Have had sex with; including oral, anal, and vaginal sex.
• Have touched or who came in contact with the rash on your body.
• Have hugged, cuddled, kissed, or had other prolonged skin-to-skin contact with.
• Shared cups, utensils, towels, clothing, bedding, blankets, or other objects and materials with.

Isolation Protocols

It is imperative that students in isolation respect and follow all isolation instructions, guidelines, and expectations per Emerson College Community Standards. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action.

General Guidelines and Expectations

• Students living on-campus with confirmed or suspected monkeypox infection will be transferred to separate housing accommodations for isolation. 
• Students living off- campus with confirmed or suspected monkeypox infection should isolate themselves in their present living space.
• Students will need to isolate for 2–4 weeks following their positive test results and until all lesions have resolved, scabs have fallen off, and a fresh layer of intact skin has formed.
• Students under isolation may not visit others or have guests in their room
• Students may also have the option to isolate at home if the location is accessible by personal transportation (car) not public transportation (airplane, bus, train).
• Students in isolation spaces are expected to follow campus and community health guidelines.
• Students in isolation should not attend events, classes, visit the fitness center, eat in the dining hall or participate in non-essential activities. Students should notify their professors, coaches or supervisors that they will be absent. Please work with your faculty to make up for missed work. The College’s attendance policy can be found here.

Students in isolation on the Boston campus will be able to leave their spaces to get fresh air and to seek medical assistance. These students must wear a well-fitting mask, gloves, and have their body entirely covered when doing so.

Questions

For more information on Monkeypox, please go to cdc.gov/monkeypox and mass.gov/monkeypox. Students can contact Health Services at healthservices [at] emerson.edu (healthservices[at]emerson[dot]edu) for any Monkeypox inquiries. Staff and faculty can contact communityhealth [at] emerson.edu (communityhealth[at]emerson[dot]edu) for any Monkeypox inquiries.

Resources: Monkeypox Testing and JYNNEOS Vaccination in the local community