MPV, otherwise known as Monkeypox and commonly referred to as MPX, is a virus that can cause rash or unusual sores that look like pimples or blisters on the face, body, and genitals, fever, chills, head or muscle aches, or swelling of lymph nodes.
- The most common way it is spread is through close, skin to skin contact with an infected individual.
- Less common ways of its spread are through clothing, linens, and other articles that have been in close contact with an infected individual, or through respiratory secretions during prolonged face to face contact.
- The risk of contracting MPV is very low for individuals that maintain casual, rather than close, contact with others.
The most common symptoms of Monkeypox are:
- A rash or sore that can appear across the body, most commonly on the face or inside the mouth, genital and anal regions, chest, hands and feet.
- Symptoms can last 2-5 weeks and may go through several changes before fully healing.
- Some people may also experience flu like symptoms, fever, chills, fatigue, swollen glands or lymph nodes.
Some known ways to prevent infection include:
- Avoid close skin contact with people that have a rash that looks like MPV
- Do not touch or handle clothing or bedding from a person with a known MPV infection
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- If your partner is sick with MPV, avoid close physical contact with them and encourage them to seek medical care.
- If attending parties or events where close physical contact is encouraged or unavoidable, please be aware that skin to skin contact during these parties or events increases the risk of transmission.
- Avoid sharing clothing, towels, bedding and other linens with others.
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should contact your doctor immediately.
For more information, please visit www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/monkeypox/home.html. If you are diagnosed with the MPV virus and have confirmation, please contact our Community Health Team at depaulcommunityhealth@depaul.edu. DePaul will seek guidance from the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) regarding contact tracing and other recommendations. If you live on-campus, please review the steps listed here. If a DePaul housing resident tests positive for monkeypox, they must inform DePaul Community Health at depaulcommunityhealth@depaul.edu on short-term housing.
As always, you are encouraged to take care of yourself, take care of each other, and take care DePaul.