Ahead of the 2022 fall term, University Health Services is providing public health education and is staying informed and prepared to help combat the viral disease now known as mpox.

Formerly called monkeypox, mpox is an infection caused by the a virus, called hMPXV. Symptoms include rashes, sores, fevers, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion. The illness can last two to four weeks, and most people recover without treatment.

If you suspect you have mpox, self-isolate and learn the next steps by calling University Health Services at 541-346-2770 or contacting your primary care provider.

As the University of Oregon works to protect the community from the outbreak, it also is important to protect the community from harmful stereotypes. The mpox virus is not specific to select groups; it infects people of all identities.

Anyone who engages in prolonged skin-to-skin contact with an infected person can contract mpox. People who do not have mpox symptoms cannot spread the virus to others.

University providers and clinical teams are closely monitoring the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other medical resources for developments in prevention, testing, diagnosis and treatment.

The University Health Services laboratory is fully prepared to test, diagnose and treat the virus with evidence-based medical treatments. Vaccinations are not yet available at the UO but are available through Lane County Public Health. Call 541-682-4041 to contact its office.

For regularly updated information on the mpox disease, visit the University Health Services website.