Cornell is monitoring the global outbreak of monkeypox first identified in May 2022 and has prevention and response plans in place. Cases have been confirmed across the U.S., including in New York State and in Tompkins County. We are collaborating with local and national health experts to implement a comprehensive campus plan involving healthcare providers, human resources professionals, academics, and student life professionals.
For more information about monkeypox, including symptoms, prevention, vaccination, case trends and other frequently asked questions, please visit the CDC website.
Monkeypox is transmitted through close and extended personal contact, often skin-to-skin contact; the risk of surface or fomite transmission in personal workspaces appears low. The CDC considers the risk of transmission to be low unless any of the following apply:
Being within 6 feet for a total of 3 hours or more (cumulative) of a person with monkeypox who was not wearing a surgical mask or respirator -OR-
Contact between an individual’s intact skin with the skin lesions or bodily fluids from a person with monkeypox -OR
Contact between an individual’s intact skin with materials (e.g., linens, clothing) that have contacted the skin lesions or bodily fluids from a person with monkeypox without having been disinfected or laundered -OR-
Contact between an individual’s clothing with the person with monkeypox’s skin lesions or bodily fluids, or their soiled linens or dressings (e.g., during turning, bathing, or assisting with patient transfer)
Where should employees go for testing or care?
Employees concerned about their risk or experiencing symptoms consistent with monkeypox should contact their primary care provider.
