Resources for Mpox

UCI Forward will continue to maintain current information and resources for UCI and the wellbeing of the campus on their website:

https://uci.edu/monkeypox/

Campus Response

November 1, 2022

For people with known exposures:

Orange County Public Health staff reach out to each person with monkeypox to find out about close contacts who would benefit from vaccination. Public Health staff reach out to those who were exposed and offer vaccine as quickly as possible. Individuals from the following groups who feel they are at risk for monkeypox (MPX) are currently eligible and should consider receiving the MPX (JYNNEOS) vaccine:

• Any man or trans person who is taking or is eligible for HIV PrEP
• Anyone living with HIV, particularly those with a CD4 count <350/mm3, an unsuppressed HIV viral load, or an opportunistic infection
• People who have had any of the following in the past 6 months:
  • Sex at a commercial sex venue
  • Sex in association with a large public event in a geographic area where MPX transmission is occurring
• Sexual partners of people with the above risks
• People who anticipate experiencing the above risks, including individuals with multiple sex partners
• Health Care Workers who are likely to collect laboratory specimens from persons with MPX (e.g., persons working in sexual health clinics or clinical settings that serve at risk populations)

August 2, 2022

"Recently, the World Health Organization declared monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern. Yesterday, Gov. Newsom declared a state of emergency in California over monkeypox. Orange County currently has 10 known cases. While there are no known cases of monkeypox on campus, monkeypox can affect anyone regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, and we are preparing our community for the possibility of a small number of cases on campus. The current risk of monkeypox in the general public is very low, based on information available."

Link: https://uci.edu/coronavirus/messages/220802-update-on-monkeypox.php 

LGBT Resource Center Response

As a community and department we recognize that Mpox can affect anyone regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. As well, we recognize that the direct impact both of the virus and the messaging regarding monkeypox has a major impact on the LGBTQ+ lives and livelihood of the LGBTQ+ community. The LGBT Resource Center is dedicated to providing resources and support to the LGBTQ+ community, and encourage students, staff, and faculty to stay informed and reach out for help.

UCI Forward

UCI Forward will continue to maintain current information and resources for UCI and the wellbeing of the campus on their website:

https://uci.edu/coronavirus/ 

UCI Forward's page on Monkeypox:

https://uci.edu/coronavirus/monkeypox/index.php

UCI Student Health Center

The Student Health Center will be facilitating vaccinations when possible, and providing other necessary health care for those affected by Mpox:

https://shc.uci.edu/ 

Graphics created by Student Wellness and Health Promotion @ UCI.
Click images to access and download.
Content warning for slide/graphic 4, photos of sores.

Monkeypox

Resources and information regarding the Monkeypox virus, including identification and prevention tips.

What is Monkeypox?

Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which is in the same family as the smallpox virus. It is rarely fatal and most symptoms are flu like, including fever, low energy, swollen lymph nodes, and general body aches. Within 1 to 3 days (sometimes longer) after the appearance of fever, the person can develop a rash or sores.

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms may include:

• flu-like feeling
• fever
• low energy
• swollen lymph nodes
• general body aches
• rashes or sores on or near the genitals
• rashes or sores along the hands, feet, chest, and face

Sore ID

Photos provided as a general reference and are not meant to self diagnose. Please see your primary care provider if sores develop.

The rash or sores may be located on or near the genitals (penis, testicles, labia, and vagina) or anus (butt) but could also be on other areas like the hands, feet, chest, and face. They may also be limited to one part of the body.

How does it spread?

Can be spread through:

• Direct skin-skin contact with rash lesions
• Sexual/intimate contact, including kissing
• Living in a house and sharing a bed with someone
• Sharing towels or unwashed clothing
• Respiratory secretions through prolonged face-to-face interactions

Can NOT be spread through:

• Casual brief conversations
• Walking by someone with monkeypox, like in a grocery store

Prevention

There are number of ways to prevent the spread of monkeypox, including:

• Practicing healthy habits, including good hand hygiene
• Always talking to your sexual partner/s about any recent illness and being aware of new or unexplained sores or rashes on your body or your partner's body, including on the genitals and anus
• Avoiding close contact, including sex, with people with symptoms like sores or rashes
• People who become infected should isolate themselves until their symptoms are improving or have gone away completely. The rash should always be well covered until completely healed.

Exposed or have symptoms?

• Contact your primary care provider
• Get tested to confirm infection
• Isolate until symptoms improve or go away completely
• Rashes should be kept covered until completely healed

Student Health Center Resources

• 24/7 Nurse Advice Line: 949-824-3870
• Schedule an appointment via the Student Health Portal:
  • www.osh.chs.uci.edu 

Vaccines

There are currently two approved vaccines used in the US, JYNNEOS and ACAM2000. At this time, the federal government has allocated a limited number of JYNNEOS vaccine doses to California. UCl's Student Health Center is working to secure the vaccine to have on hand for the campus student community.

Orange County:

The Orange County Health Care Agency currently has a limited supply and is prioritizing those at highest risk. Check the Othena website www.othena.com to see when appointments are available and if you qualify.

Outside Orange County:

Check with your local health department for vaccine availability.

Resources & Updates

UCI is working closely with the Orange County Health Care Agency to keep the campus prepared, informed and healthy.

Learn more at the UCl Forward Website:

www.uci.edu/coronavirus/monkeypox 

UCI Students with UC SHIP Insurance can seek medical care at the Student Health Center:

www.shc.uci.edu 

What Gay and Bisexual Men need to know about Monkeypox

• Cases have been detected among gay and bisexul men but not exclusively

What is Monkeypox?

• Monkeypox is viral infection transmitted through close personal contact, including kissing, sex, and other skin-to-skin contact.

What are the Symptoms?

• Rash, bumps, or blishes
  • These may appear anywhere on the body, including the genitals. This may look similar to syphilis, herpes, or other common skin rashes.
• Other symptoms
  • Fever and headaches
  • Muscle aches
  • Swollen lymph nodes
• Symptoms onset ranges from 5 - 21 days

What You Can Do

• Stay Informed
  • Remain calm this is a rapidly changing situation. Visit CDC or CDPH websites for up-to-date guidances.
• Contact
  • If you have symptoms, call (do not visit) your health care provider, and ask about testing.
• Take a Break
  • If you have symptoms, stay at home, wear a mask, and cover sores to protect others.

Stop Stigma

• Anyone can get monkeypox
• Blaming any one community may harm public health efforts and cause providers to miss monkeypox in other people.

Source: Gay Sexuality & Social Policy Initiative @ UCLA Luskin - www.gaysexresearch.com 

Six (6) Ways we can Reduce Risk in the time of Monkeypox

• Consider taking a break from group sex spaces
  • It might be time to temporarily pause going to places with lots of sexual activity until we all get vaccinated. As soon as fall 2022 we hope to have enough vaccines available for our communities.
    • Forget slutty summer, hold off for anal autumn! Do it in cider donut season.
• Form a "sex pod"
  • Similar how people establish pods to make socializing safer from COVID-19, try a sex pod! Pod members monitor symptoms after last exposure and limit sexual partners to other pod members.
• Practice open and honest communication
  • Before meeting up with a partner, discuss if you or they have had any recent sex partners or have had aprolonged skin-to-skin contact with others. Talk about your health and whether you have any sores or other monkeypox symptoms.
• Consider condoms
  • Although the allmark monkeypox rash or pox can appear anywhere, they are commonly reported on the genitals and anal area. Condom use won't fully protext against monkeypox, but it could help reduce the risk of skin-to-skin contact with any lesions in these areas (including internal lesions!)
• Wear more clothing
  • Monkeypox is mostly spread through skin-to-skin contact. Anything you can do to resuce the amount of exposed skin will make crowded spaces less risky.
    • T-shirt at a circuit part? Long sleeves at the Eagle? Break out the fetish gear! If Kim Kcan do it, you can too.
• Take care of yourself and others
  • Get vaccinated if you can. If you test positive for monkeypox, or if you have flu-like symptoms or a new rash, please stay home, get tested, and try to get TPOXX - a safe and likely effetive antiviral treatment for monkeypox.

Adapted from the Poz.com article "Six Eay We Can Have Safer Sex in the Time of Monkeypox" by Nicholas Diamond, Hoe Osmundson, PhD, and Grant Roth, MPH

Source: Gay Sexuality & Social Policy Initiative @ UCLA Luskin