Preventing and managing monkeypox in higher education settings

Our briefing provides principles for the prevention and case management of monkeypox infections in UK higher education settings, with additional information on access to care and vaccination.

This briefing is for professional services staff across UK higher education providers, students' unions and third party providers, particularly those roles dealing with student and staff safety, health and wellbeing. It is especially relevant to staff working in student accommodation or social events.

• background information about monkeypox
• vaccination
• access to care 
• contacting the health protection team 
• managing people with monkeypox 
• managing contacts of people with monkeypox 
• cleaning, disinfection, and waste disposal  
• transport 

Monkeypox is a rare disease that is caused by the monkeypox virus. There has been a recent increase in cases of monkeypox in the UK, as well as in other parts of the world where it has not been seen before.

The symptoms of monkeypox begin between 5 to 21 days after contact with someone who has a monkeypox infection and include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, chills and exhaustion. This is followed by a rash a few days later that may start on the face, groin, or hands, before spreading to the rest of the body. The illness is usually mild, and most people recover within a few weeks without treatment.

Take a look at further information on monkeypox.