As students return to college campuses across the county, one issue that is on the minds of administrators, staff, and parents is the possibility of a monkeypox outbreak on campus. The current monkeypox outbreak causes fever and skin rashes and can be serious and debilitating. The risk of transmission on college campuses could become high due to the proximity of students living and socializing near each other.
College campuses have already been operating under precautions from the threat of COVID-19. The student community must use renewed diligence in order to avoid transmission of the monkeypox virus. Below are multiple approaches that colleges can adopt to curtail any monkeypox spread.
Develop a Management Program To Prevent Monkeypox Transmission
One way colleges can encourage monkeypox prevention on campus is by creating an infectious disease management program for their students. College health departments are positioned to educate students about contagious diseases and the means of lessening exposure to them. This management program should incorporate public health guidelines on dealing with monkeypox. Some of these protocols include:
Encourage Students To Cover Up Any Exposed Skin When in Close Contact With Other People
In college, it's nearly impossible to go a day without close contact with other students. Avoiding complete contact is almost impossible, so ensuring your skin is well-covered is wise. Students often attend crowded social events and school-related activities, so wearing an appropriate amount of clothing to cover exposed skin is an excellent preventative measure.
Encourage Students To Wash Hands Frequently
Monkeypox infection is not easy to spot in the newly infected. Regularly washing your hands and using hand sanitizer is advisable, particularly after interacting with other students. The CDC recommends that people should use an EPA-approved sanitizer, like My Shield Hand Sanitizer Foam to wash their hands.
Develop Rigorous Sanitation For Shared Use Facilities
In colleges, students participle in different types of activities beyond just classroom studies. Sporting activities, music and dance classes, and even time spent in the dining hall or study areas can expose students to surfaces contacted by any possible infected co-eds. Colleges should encourage students to take preventative actions like carrying My Shield alcohol-free antimicrobial wipes to keep themselves safe throughout the day. The monkeypox virus can survive for an extended period on surfaces, so cleaning protocols are an important part of reducing transmission.
Facilitate Isolation To Prevent Monkeypox Transmission
When it comes to infectious diseases, we tend to focus on the best ways to prevent and contain them. But in some cases, there is a third option: Isolation of those infected individuals.
Quarantining is done by restricting and isolating someone in separate housing. Body secretions from monkeypox patients can facilitate the transmission of this virus. My-Shield Broad Spectrum Disinfectant can be used to clean surfaces where infected students are being isolated.
Poxviruses can persist in bedding, clothing, and ambient surfaces, especially in conditions with low humidity. It's therefore advisable to use long-lasting antimicrobial products when cleaning rooms where many students interact, like locker rooms and classrooms. Bedding should also be cleaned with an anti-microbial laundry detergent, such as My Shield Laundry Complete.
Protecting Students and Staff Should be a High Priority For Colleges and Universities
Many students may arrive on campus unprepared for the health and safety measures that they may face throughout the campus year. Sometimes these measures can be considered a nuisance or inconvenience, but they are necessary to keep students safe and healthy while in school. Administrators should step up to ensure that ALL students and staff are informed about and protected from the disease on campus.
Of course, being a college student, the main reason for being in school is to get an education. Students' health is equally important. Monkeypox is a serious disease that could lead to adverse health consequences.
While monkeypox doesn't have an extremely high fatality rate, it's still a deadly virus. College students are at increased risk of contracting the virus since they're often in close contact. To aid in curtailing monkeypox transmission, colleges can adopt any of these strategies. Prevention is always better than cure.
