Mpox Information
The health and well-being of our community continue to be our highest priority. Similar to all transmissible illnesses, we are closely monitoring the spread of Mpox and remain in regular contact with local health authorities.
As with COVID-19, we will continue to focus on taking measured public health actions informed by consensus science and our Jesuit values. In keeping with this commitment, we are prioritizing language in our University communications that does not stigmatize any member of our community. We will only share factual and accurate information with you.
We will update this webpage as new information becomes available. You can email your Mpox-related questions to shc@health.slu.edu.
FAQ
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Mpox is a rare infectious disease that does not spread easily between people. If you contract Mpox, you may have a fever, chills, sore muscles, headache or tiredness, and then get a rash. Sometimes, you may experience a rash first, followed by other symptoms. It’s possible to only get a rash without having the other symptoms. But the visible rash and rash locations set Mpox apart from most other infectious diseases. The rash typically looks like pimples or blisters. The rash is usually in the genital-anal area, inside the mouth, on the face, and/or on other parts of your body.
Previously called Monkeypox or MPV, Mpox is a new name approved by the World Health Organization in November 2022 that was then adopted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You can read more about the naming decision here.
If you have Mpox symptoms, do not come to campus until you have been screened by a healthcare provider. If you are a student, contact the Student Health Center at 314-977-2323 immediately to discuss your symptoms and testing options. A provider will conduct a health screening with you to understand more about your symptoms and determine whether a test is required. If you live off campus, the provider will walk you through how to safely isolate before testing and while you’re waiting for results. If you live on campus, the provider will walk you through how to safely isolate until your testing appointment. If you are an employee, please see your primary care provider for screening. .
If you are a student and have tested positive for Mpox by another provider, contact the Student Health Center at 314-977-2323 immediately and they will walk you through the next steps. If you are an employee and have tested positive for Mpox, please talk to your primary care provider and/or the health department in the city or county you live in about next steps. You are required to report your absence but do not need to disclose that you tested positive for Mpox. You should follow the University’s sick leave policy and contact Human Resources with any questions at hr@slu.edu.
Yes. If you live off campus, the Student Health Center will discuss how you can safely isolate in your space. If you live on campus, the center will discuss options for safe isolation housing. Isolating at home is preferred, but if you are not able to go home and you do not have a private bedroom and bathroom, the University will provide isolation housing for you. While isolating, our student well-being team will offer resources to support your physical, mental, spiritual and academic well-being.
It can take a few weeks for the Mpox rash to heal enough for you to return to class or work. Being absent from classes, work and your friends for that length of time can be stressful. The Student Health Center will connect you with a team member from Academic Affairs to develop a plan for your studies so that you can continue to make progress on your courses while in isolation. The Student Well-Being team will connect to support you in any other way you need as you heal.
If you are an employee, please work with your supervisor or dean to make accommodations for the time you will be away from campus.
The Student Health Center will conduct all contact tracing of students who test positive on campus. Our Student Health team will work closely with the City of St. Louis Health Department to coordinate contact tracing for those who tested positive at a community testing site.
SLU will coordinate with the St. Louis City Health Department to ensure all of our community members who are close contacts have access to the vaccine, either through the Student Health Center or another site. If you’re a close contact, our goal is for you to be vaccinated within four days of exposure to offer you the best chance to prevent the disease or reduce its severity. If you are a high-risk individual looking to get vaccinated, we encourage you to review the City of St. Louis Health Department’s website to learn how to access the vaccine in the community.
According to the CDC, the best way to protect yourself from Mpox is to avoid skin-to-skin or intimate contact with anyone with a rash that looks like Mpox. If you are sexually active, talk to your partner(s) about any recent illnesses and be aware of any new or unexplained rashes on either of your bodies.