By Nyomi Herrera
The first case of monkeypox in the United States arrived in our neighboring state, Massachusetts in May and the case count currently stands at 426. And in Rhode Island, there are 79 reported cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Across the nation, there are 27,317 confirmed monkeypox/orthopoxvirus cases as of October 17, the CDC reports.
Monkeypox is an illness that is most easily identified by its painful rash along with other common fever symptoms, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
“The risk of children and adolescents getting infected with monkeypox virus is low,” as reports the AAP website. “Monkeypox can spread to anyone through close, personal, often skin-to-skin contact and not through casual contact (eg, in school, child care settings). Risk of infection is more likely for household members and other close contacts of an infected person.”
Indeed, our own school nurse, Nurse Tammy Lafreniere reports that according to the Rhode Island Department of Health there are currently no children or adolescents in Rhode Island with monkeypox.
The virus can spread to anyone through close, personal, often skin-to-skin contact, including: direct contact with monkeypox rash, scabs, or body fluids from a person with monkeypox; touching objects, fabrics (clothing, bedding, or towels), and surfaces that have been used by someone with monkeypox; and contact with respiratory secretions. This direct contact can happen during intimate contact, the CDC reports.
This includes intercourse, oral sex, hugging, massaging and kissing, or prolonged fact-to-face contact or any other prolonged contact with open wounds, rashes or secretions.
Something that does require precaution in schools is close-contact sports, Dr. Leana Wen told CNN: Health.
“Activities that involve prolonged skin-to-skin contact will be higher risk,” reported Dr. Wen in April. “Kids involved in wrestling or tackle football, for example, would be higher risk than if they did cross-country running or swimming.”
Still, “[t]hat doesn’t mean children shouldn’t participate in contact sports. Again, the incidence of monkeypox in kids is currently so low that this shouldn’t be a major concern,”she said.
Dr. Wen is an emergency physician and professor of health policy and management at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health.
“We recommend people continue to follow common-sense infection prevention measures, such as wearing masks, washing hands regularly and cleaning high-touch surfaces,” advised the University of Chicago Medicine website. “People should also consider wearing clothing that covers more to prevent any potential contact. It can take from five to 21 days to become sick with monkeypox after exposure.”
In the end, it’s quite simple according to Nurse Tammy:
“You just need to be smart and use common sense. Treat monkeypox like you treat Covid-19 right now,” she advises students. “Be aware that it exists, take precautions if you are going to be in high risk activities and don’t panic.”