IUSD is committed to maintaining healthy and safe school environments. This resource page is designed to help keep our community informed and to provide information about the Monkeypox virus from expert health agencies. Also included is information about IUSD’s planning and protocols, and what families can do to help support healthy campuses.
About Monkeypox
According to the most recent information on the California Department of Public Health’s monkeypox resource page, “The current risk of getting monkeypox in the general public is very low” and primarily spread through “very close and prolonged contact with someone with symptoms.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reports that monkeypox is a rare disease caused by a virus in the same family as smallpox. Monkeypox symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms, but milder, and monkeypox is rarely fatal. Monkeypox is not related to chickenpox.
To learn more we encourage you to visit the following expert health agencies:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) monkeypox resource page
- California Department of Public Health monkeypox resource page
- Orange County Health Care Agency monkeypox resource webpage
Symptoms
The CDC reports that early symptoms of monkeypox are flu-like, and include fever, fatigue, headache, and enlarged lymph nodes. To learn more about monkeypox signs and symptoms, please visit the following sites:
- CDC - Signs and Symptoms
- California Department of Public Health - Symptoms
- Orange County Health Care Agency - Symptoms and FAQ
How it Spreads
According to national, state and local expert health agencies, the “current risk of getting monkeypox in the general public is very low” and it is primarily spread through “very close and prolonged contact with someone with symptoms.” For detailed information about how monkeypox is spread, visit:
- CDC resource page
- California Department of Public Health’s resource page
- Orange County Health Care Agency resource page
Prevention
- Stay home when sick; this is key in preventing monkeypox, COVID and a range of other illnesses and will go a long way in helping to maintain healthy and safe campuses.
- Avoid close contact with people who have symptoms like sores or rashes.
- Practice good hand hygiene.
- People who become infected should isolate until their symptoms are improving or have gone away completely. A rash should always be well covered until completely healed.
- Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) (like a mask, gown and gloves) when caring for others with symptoms.
- Avoid contact with infected animals.
For more information, visit:
- CDC resource page
- California Department of Public Health’s resource page
- Orange County Health Care Agency resource page
IUSD Planning and Protocols
- IUSD is committed to maintaining healthy and safe school environments. As with any infectious disease, IUSD and our schools will monitor the situation and similar to COVID-19, we will follow guidance from expert health agencies such as the CDC, the California Department of Public Health and the Orange County Health Care Agency. At this time, these agencies are reporting that the “current risk of getting monkeypox in the general public is very low” and in Orange County cases “remain low.”
- IUSD has been and will remain in close contact with state and local health agencies and will keep our community informed if health conditions or guidance for our county or schools changes.
- In the meantime, IUSD schools continue to maintain enhanced COVID-19 cleaning and disinfecting protocols and mitigation strategies, which are also effective in helping to prevent and limit the spread of monkeypox, along with other illnesses. Additionally, we continue to reinforce good hygiene and healthy habits with students, staff and families, including frequent hand washing/sanitizing and staying home when sick.
- When made aware of confirmed positive cases of monkeypox, we will report the case to the local health department as we would any other infectious disease. We will follow Orange County Health Care Agency guidance on notifying those who may have been exposed and complete the recommended sanitation process. We will continue to work in partnership with OCHCA to ensure any cases are handled with extreme diligence.
What You Can Do
- Keep sick students home and report any illness to your child’s school. We understand that missing school for any reason can be stressful. Please contact your school and they will work with you to continue your student’s education and will maintain confidentiality.
- Reinforce the importance of good hand hygiene with your student(s) and encourage them to wash their hands and/or use hand sanitizer stations at school. Click here for a CDC handwashing video.
- Carefully read the prevention information on this page and from the CDC, the California Department of Public Health and the Orange County Health Care Agency.
- Help stop the spread of misinformation. As experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, large amounts of misinformation is often shared online and through various communication channels. Please continue to visit national, state and local expert health agencies for timely and accurate official information. Similar to COVID-19, IUSD follows the guidance and information provided by the CDC, the California Department of Public Health and the Orange County Health Care Agency.
- Practice kindness and respect. We understand this may cause concern and stress for some in our community and we ask that our families continue to demonstrate care and respect for others and avoid rumors. If you have a question about your campus, please contact your school.