Monkeypox Information
Student Health Services is closely monitoring the national monkeypox outbreak.
We strongly encourage students to learn about monkeypox and take steps to protect themselves.
Monkeypox is a viral infection primarily spread through prolonged close contact. It is not a sexually transmitted infection (STI), and anybody can be at risk, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. The most common symptoms of monkeypox include fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Currently, testing is only recommended if you have a rash consistent with monkeypox. If you think you have monkeypox or have had close personal contact with someone who has monkeypox, consider taking precautions and contact your health care provider or go to Urgent Care to help you decide if you need to be tested for monkeypox. Be sure to wear a mask and cover any lesions as much as possible. Although commercial testing is available, specimens must be collected by a health care provider and sent to the lab. LabCorp, Quest and other labs that are doing testing will not take self-referred walk-ins for monkeypox testing. Testing involved collecting swabs of the rash, which will be sent out to a lab. Students should isolate off-campus while test results are pending.
Students who are concerned that they have monkeypox should contact Student Health Services or their primary care physician. Only a health care provider can order a monkeypox test. Student Health Services does not evaluate or test for monkeypox. The health care provider may take a specimen and send it to a lab for testing or they may send you to a lab for both specimen collection and testing.
Residential and commuter students must quarantine or isolate off-campus. Residential Life does not have the housing available to quarantine or isolate a student with monkeypox for a two to four week period that they may be contagious. Quarantining students are encouraged to work with their faculty members and Stockton Cares to keep up with assignments and projects or request accommodations.
Students’ eligibility for the vaccine has been determined by the NJ-DOH and includes those who: have had known contact with someone who tested positive for the virus within 14 days; attended an event where known monkeypox exposure occurred within 14 days; had multiple sex partners in the past 14 days in areas where monkeypox has been reported.
When thinking about attending events, consider how much close, skin-to-skin contact is likely to occur at the event you plan to attend. If you feel sick or have any rashes or sores, do not attend any gathering and see a health care provider.
Safer gatherings include festivals, events and concerts where people are fully clothed, and unlikely to share skin-to-skin contact. But keep in mind that close personal contact such as kissing can also spread monkeypox.
Other steps to take are the following:
- Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like monkeypox
- Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with monkeypox.
- Do not kiss, hug or cuddle with someone with monkeypox.
- Avoid contact with objects and materials that a person with monkeypox has used.
- Do not share eating utensils or cups with a person with monkeypox.
- Do not handle or touch the clothing of a person with monkeypox.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based sanitizer, especially before eating or touching your face and after you use the bathroom.
