Monkeypox case found on George Washington campus

George Washington University officials have confirmed the first case of the monkeypox virus on its Washington, D.C., campus.

In an email sent on Tuesday, university officials told the school community that the individual who tested positive for the virus has been isolated off campus, where they are receiving treatment from medical professionals.

School officials also said that three close contacts of the patient have been notified about the situation, noting that the risk of the virus spreading within the school community remains low. 

The school’s student newspaper, The GW Hatchet, first reported the news. 

“The university is working with the DC Department of Health, the GW Medical Faculty Associates’ Infectious Diseases team, GW Occupational Health and the Colonial Health Center to support the university community in response to this infection,” the school said in its email.

This comes after the D.C. Health Department first confirmed in early June that it had identified a possible monkeypox case in the city, saying the individual tested positive for orthopox, a family of viruses that falls within monkeypox.

A limited supply of vaccines to treat monkeypox made available to at-risk individuals in the city ran out less than a day after the immunization initiative launched Monday.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 27 U.S. states, in addition to Washington, D.C., have confirmed cases of monkeypox. 

George Washington University officials advised its school community to avoid close contact with infected individuals and requested that students and health care workers start wearing N95 masks as well. 

“You can prevent exposure by avoiding close contact with skin or clothing of an infected person and by wearing a mask,” the school said in its email.