SALEM, OR -- With the state’s first confirmed case of Monkeypox in a child, this week, the Oregon Health Authority is addressing concerns the virus could spread in schools. State Health Officer Dr. Dean Sidelinger says because hMPXV is transmitted through prolonged skin-to-skin contact, “School settings present low risk for transmission of Monkeypox.”
But, at some point, he says there will be students or staff diagnosed with the virus. “We encourage them to stay home if they’re sick or develop a new rash, seek care for testing and treatment. This will help minimize potential exposures, even exposures that present low risk for transmission in schools.”
Dr. Sidelinger says districts should prepare for potentially long isolations for those people because recovering from hMPXV can take weeks, "We are asking schools to plan now for how they will support staff and students who may have prolonged times isolating at home while they recover. Schools should plan for how they will protect confidentiality of school community members who are sick and address Monkeypox in a non-stigmatizing manner."
The OHA released few details of the pediatric case - refusing to reveal the child’s age range, gender or region of the state, Dr. Sidelinger would only say the child is connected to a known adult case.
