The student, who is a commuter student and does not live on campus, is currently isolating and is said to be doing well.
Nancy Santos Gainer, the vice president of university communications, said as soon as they found out they began working with local health departments to see if anyone in Chester County had been exposed.
At this time, there have been no reports of any close contact with the student, said Gainer.
There have been no other reports of monkeypox to the university.
“We want people to know that it’s coming in close intimate contact with someone with monkeypox. It’s not easily transferable,” explained Gainer.
It’s still unclear if the student came into contact with anyone outside of Chester County.
If that is the case, Gainer said your county’s health department would be giving anyone exposed a call.
According to medical experts, the monkeypox virus typically starts with generic virus symptoms like a headache, fever, pain and fatigue. But then that can increase and some may break out in rashes, or the pox marks as they’re known, all over their body.
It typically spreads through respiratory droplets, usually after prolonged contact, and also through other bodily fluids or other forms of close contact.
West Chester University released this statement to Action New:
“West Chester University health officials received confirmation this past weekend that a commuter student has tested positive for monkeypox. The student is currently isolating and doing well. According to the investigative efforts of the lead health department on the case, the University has been told that there are no close contacts in Chester County. There have been no other reports to the University and, according to the CDC and PA Department of Health, the risk of contracting monkeypox remains extremely low.”
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