Risk, Safety, & Resilience

Stop the Spread – Monkeypox

The World Health Organization declared Monkeypox (MPV) a global health emergency on July 23, 2022 and the U.S. declared Monkeypox a public health emergency on August 4, 2022.

Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the Monkeypox virus, which belongs to the same group of viruses as smallpox. Symptoms are similar to smallpox, but milder; and Monkeypox is rarely fatal. It can be transmitted through direct contact with an infected person’s body fluids or MPV lesions.

Anyone, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, can get Monkeypox if they have close contact with someone infected with the virus. Most cases have been identified among people who self-identify as gay men, bisexual men, and other men who have sex with men (MSM), and/or transgender, gender non-conforming, or gender non-binary people, who are age 18 or older and have had multiple recent partners. At this time, despite that the current level of MPV in the U.S. is higher than normal, the risk to the general population is low.

More information about outbreaks in the United States can be found here: Past U.S. Cases and Outbreaks | Monkeypox | Poxvirus | CDC

Mason Resources for Questions and Concerns:
Students: Please call 703-993-2831 if you have a lesion that you think might be Monkeypox and wait to be evaluated at Student Health Services.

Employees: Please contact your Primary Care Provider or Urgent Care for testing. For additional questions or concerns, contact Employee Health & Well-Being at 703-993-6001 or via email at: ehw@gmu.edu

Monkeypox Virus Safety Plan (PDF)


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