Communicable Diseases

CSU Channel Islands is committed to the health and safety of its students, employees, visitors, and community. It is imperative that we foster a safe campus environment for all by evaluating risk and minimizing and managing exposure to communicable diseases on campus.

Centralized reporting helps control and prevent the spread of communicable diseases, and protect the health of CSUCI students, employees, and the community. The University works to do its part through our infectious disease reporting process, which includes submitting reports to local public health officials to help them identify, track, and mitigate suspected notifiable conditions throughout the state.

Hantavirus (Andes Virus)

Hantavirus is a virus primarily spread to humans through contact with infected rodents via their urine, droppings, or saliva. In the United States, infection can lead to Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), a rare but serious respiratory illness. Early symptoms typically include fever, fatigue, and muscle aches, and may progress to coughing and shortness of breath.

The Andes virus is a type of hantavirus spread by rodents primarily in South America, and less commonly, by other infected people. It is the only type of hantavirus that is known to spread person-to-person. This spread is usually limited to people who have close contact with a sick person. This includes direct physical contact, prolonged time spent in close or enclosed spaces, and exposure to the sick person's body fluids.

Avoid exposure by maintaining a clean living area or workspace, sealing holes and gaps to prevent rodent infestation, and for general knowledge use proper procedures for cleaning rodent urine and droppings, and avoid close contact with infected individuals. 

COVID-19

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person through airborne transmission. Patients with COVID-19 may have mild to serious respiratory illness, and many people also experience extended post-covid illness (Long COVID) beyond the acute stage of infection. Wearing a well-fitting mask, testing regularly when you are sick or feeling unwell, and staying home if you test positive   can protect your health and prevent the spread of COVID-19 to others. 

Mpox

Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) is a rare disease that is caused by infection with the mpox virus, a member of the same family as the smallpox virus. Mpox is similar to smallpox in that it can be spread from infected humans, animals, and materials contaminated with the virus; however, mpox is less transmissible and less severe than smallpox.

Mpox spreads primarily through close, physical skin-to-skin contact. You may be exposed by coming in contact with infectious sores, scabs, or body fluids, or through respiratory secretions during close face-to-face contact. Contact with contaminated objects like clothing, bedding or towels may also be a means of transmission. Mpox is not spread through brief, casual contact. Mpox often begins with flu-like symptoms that are usually followed in one or several days by a rash or sores on the body. Some people may experience rashes or sores without first developing other symptoms. A person may be able to spread mpox from the time their symptoms begin until all sores have healed, which may take several weeks.

We encourage all CSUCI students, employees, vendors, contractors, and campus visitors/members of the public, who have physically been on campus and tested positive for mpox, to please self-report this information as soon as possible. A vaccine for mpox is available, please contact Ventura County Public Health if you believe you may have been exposed to mpox.

Report a case of monkeypox

Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV)

Per the CDC: Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) can cause upper and lower respiratory disease in people of all ages, especially among young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Discovered in 2001, HMPV is in the Pneumoviridae family along with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Broader use of molecular diagnostic testing has increased identification and awareness of HMPV as an important cause of upper and lower respiratory infection.

 

Contact Information

Email: HealthyCSUCI@csuci.edu

Phone: 805-437-3550

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