SUNY Cortland is committed to protecting the health and safety of the entire campus community. The university does not consider monkeypox a source of concern at this point, but students, faculty and staff should be aware of its symptoms and steps to take if symptomatic.
Policy will be based on guidance from New York state, the State University of New York, the Cortland County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Any updates on monkeypox will be communicated to the campus community by email.
Monkeypox is a rare virus that is spread mostly through close, intimate contact with someone who has monkeypox. While the risk for contracting the disease for the general public is low — it is still important for our community to know how monkeypox is spread, what its symptoms are, how to reduce personal risk and steps to take if you are experiencing symptoms.
More information about monkeypox is available through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC does not recommend widespread vaccination against monkeypox at this time. The state Department of Health is distributing vaccine to areas with the highest case rates of monkeypox. The allocation system takes into account the number of individuals at risk for monkeypox who also have pre-existing conditions such as HIV.
Symptoms of monkeypox can include:
If you have been exposed to someone with monkeypox, it can take up to 21 days to develop symptoms. For most people, the illness lasts for two to four weeks and causes a mild illness. Severe cases can occur.
According to CDC guidelines, people with monkeypox should remain isolated at home for the duration of illness. The isolation period for monkeypox is two to four weeks.
More information on monkeypox is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the New York state Department of Health.
Lauren Scagnelli
Health Educator
Kayla Sweeney
Graduate Assistant
Rose Ryan
Administrative Assistant
Corey Union, Room 202
Phone 607-753-2066