The student, who is a commuter student and does not live on campus, is currently in isolation and is said to be doing well.
Nancy Santos Gainer, vice president of university communications, said as soon as she learned she began working with local health departments to see if anyone in Chester County had been exposed.
Gainer said that at this time, there have been no reports of any close contact with the student.
The university has not received any other reports of monkeypox.
Gainer explained, “We want people to know it’s coming in close close contact with someone with monkeypox. It’s not easily transferable.”
It is still unclear whether the student came into contact with anyone outside Chester County.
If that’s the case, your county’s health department will ask anyone to call, Gainer said.
According to medical experts, monkeypox virus usually starts with common virus symptoms like headache, fever, pain and fatigue. But then it can grow and some may have rashes, or smallpox marks, as they are known, all over the body.
It is most commonly spread through respiratory droplets, usually after prolonged contact, and also through other bodily fluids or other forms of close contact.
West Chester University issued this statement to Action New:
“West Chester University health officials received confirmation this past weekend that a commuter student has tested positive for monkeypox. The student is currently in isolation and doing well. According to the Department of Health’s investigative efforts leading on the matter , the university has been told that there are no close contacts in Chester County. The university has not received any other reports and according to the CDC and PA Department of Health, the risk of contracting monkeypox is extremely low.”
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