Less than two weeks before hundreds of thousands of young New Yorkers are scheduled to return to their classes for the autumn semester, the city announced its first case of juvenile monkeypox on Friday.
The viral illness was contracted by the child, whose name, age, and gender were concealed from a “household contact,” according to Dr. Ashwin Vasan, the local Department of Health director.
“While we understand the concerns of families, we also know that the overall risk of exposure for children in the city remains very low,” Vasan said in a statement.
Although public health officials have conceded that the number is likely considerably higher due to inadequate testing capabilities, as of Friday afternoon, 2,888 cases of monkeypox had been confirmed in the city.
There have been no documented deaths from monkeypox in the US.
The monkeypox outbreak primarily affects guys who have intercourse with other men.
However, as the virus is mainly communicated through skin-to-skin contact, anyone can become infected.
Before the start of the regular school year on September 8th, city officials closely monitored monkeypox transmission, with some expressing fear that children would spread it more quickly in classroom settings.
Monkeypox symptoms include fever, chills, bodily aches, and rashes that resemble blisters.
The Department of Health warns of numerous possible causes of rashes and sores, including insect bites, acne, allergic reactions, and other illnesses. Even so, the government advises people who think they may have come into contact with the monkeypox virus to get checked out by a clinical professional.
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