Local universities monitoring monkeypox in the region – WJHL-TV News Channel 11

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) According to the state health department, there are five monkey pox cases in the Northeast Tennessee region. Though numbers are low, local universities said they are monitoring the situation.

Dr. Randy Wykoff, dean of East Tennessee State Universitys College of Public Health, shared the latest protocol and symptoms to look out for.

Headache, fever, then they get swollen lymph nodes that are painful and then they get a rash that follows a very specific sequence, Wykoff said. It starts like you can see it but you dont feel it, but then you can feel it, then its fluid-filled, and then it breaks open and it finally crusts over.

Wykoff said for college students that have just gotten back to school they shouldnt worry too much because there are only certain situations where they can contract the virus.

It requires that bare skin on bare skin, so just being at a football game or something probably isnt going to be a risk factor, Wykoff said. If an individual is diagnosed, theyre asked to isolate typically until the lesions crust over and then what would happen is anyone that theyve been in direct personal skin-to-skin contact with would be notified.

ETSU released a statement Friday saying that they are following case numbers closely.

We are continuing to monitor state and federal guidance, including CDC recommendations, case counts and public health measures in our region to protect the health and wellness of our students, faculty, and staff.

Tusculum University also responded Friday, saying they plan to adopt appropriate measures when needed.

Tusculum University is monitoring developments with monkeypox and has received guidance from the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities. We continue to monitor the situation pertaining to this virus and are considering and adopting appropriate measures designed to protect the health of all Tusculum family members. Based on our success in response to the coronavirus, we envision the steps we take with monkeypox will produce desired results.

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Local universities monitoring monkeypox in the region - WJHL-TV News Channel 11