A student at San Diego State University has tested positive for the surging illness of monkeypox.
The university made the news official on Thursday, which becomes the first monkeypox-related case among the SDSU Aztec community.
According to the school, the student lives off campus and recentely had minimal presence on the campus, which is why San Diego State has listed the student's exposure risk as "low", considering that health officials say that monkeypox contraction requires close phsyical contact.
"Student Health Services has confirmed today, Sept. 1, that a San Diego State University student who lives off campus in San Diego has tested positive for monkeypox. This is the first known case among members of the SDSU community. The student lives off campus, and the exposure risk is low. The student is also off campus isolating and recovering," SDSU said in an online statement.
The student has since then been on full isolation and working on recovering from the illness.
Students who have been in contact with the ill student have been notified about the situation and have been suggested to isolate as well.
According to the C.D.C., the following symptons could be indication that one has contracted monkeypox:
- The rash will go through several stages, including scabs, before healing.
- The rash can initially look like pimples or blisters and may be painful or itchy.
Other symptons such as:
- Fever
- Chills
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Exhaustion
- Muscle aches and backache
- Headache
- Respiratory symptoms (e.g. sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough)
Additionally:
- Sometimes, people have flu-like symptoms before the rash.
- Some people get a rash first, followed by other symptoms.
- Others only experience a rash.
The university says that the school's health services department is working alongside the county to better monitor this particular case reported on Thursday.
"Student Health Services is monitoring the case with our county partners. Close contacts of the non-residential student have already been identified and have been directly notified through contact tracing conducted by Student Health Services," the school said.
