NH reports 1st pediatric case of monkeypox

On Sep 17, 2022

The first pediatric case of monkeypox in New Hampshire has been identified, state health officials said Friday.Officials said the Manchester child was infected after an exposure to a household contact who had monkeypox. The child, who was not identified, has a mild illness and is isolating at home, officials said.>> Resources: More information on monkeypox | Get vaccinated”Monkeypox virus is spread primarily through direct physical contact to another person with monkeypox who has developed infectious skin lesions,” said state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan. “Our public health team is working to identify people who may have been exposed to the virus so we can connect them with preventive vaccination, but the risk to the general school population and others in the community is very low.”Officials didn’t release the age of the child or say which school the child attends.Health officials said they’re working with the child’s school to conduct contact tracing and identify other people who might have had direct physical contact or hours of prolonged face-to-face contact with the child while they were contagious.Anyone identified as a close contact of the child will be contacted by public health investigators and recommended to watch for symptoms and get the JYNNEOS vaccine, which can help prevent infection after an exposure.Officials said the general school community is believed to be at low risk for monkeypox infection because it’s typically spread through direct physical contact with someone who is symptomatic. Experts said it’s possible to spread by respiratory droplets, but only through hours of prolonged face-to-face contact.People with monkeypox develop a unique rash that changes over time as a person’s illness progresses and then slowly goes away over several weeks. The monkeypox rash is very infectious. Other symptoms of monkeypox can include fever, chills, headache, exhaustion, muscle aches, sore throat, or swollen lymph nodes. Sometimes people may only have the rash.A person with monkeypox can spread their infection starting when they first develop symptoms, and they remain contagious until their rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed. People who do not have monkeypox symptoms are not considered contagious or a risk to others. As of Aug. 31, there had been at least 31 pediatric cases of monkeypox in the United States.

CONCORD, N.H. —

The first pediatric case of monkeypox in New Hampshire has been identified, state health officials said Friday.

Officials said the Manchester child was infected after an exposure to a household contact who had monkeypox. The child, who was not identified, has a mild illness and is isolating at home, officials said.

>> Resources: More information on monkeypox | Get vaccinated

“Monkeypox virus is spread primarily through direct physical contact to another person with monkeypox who has developed infectious skin lesions,” said state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan. “Our public health team is working to identify people who may have been exposed to the virus so we can connect them with preventive vaccination, but the risk to the general school population and others in the community is very low.”

Officials didn’t release the age of the child or say which school the child attends.

Health officials said they’re working with the child’s school to conduct contact tracing and identify other people who might have had direct physical contact or hours of prolonged face-to-face contact with the child while they were contagious.

Anyone identified as a close contact of the child will be contacted by public health investigators and recommended to watch for symptoms and get the JYNNEOS vaccine, which can help prevent infection after an exposure.

Officials said the general school community is believed to be at low risk for monkeypox infection because it’s typically spread through direct physical contact with someone who is symptomatic. Experts said it’s possible to spread by respiratory droplets, but only through hours of prolonged face-to-face contact.

People with monkeypox develop a unique rash that changes over time as a person’s illness progresses and then slowly goes away over several weeks. The monkeypox rash is very infectious. Other symptoms of monkeypox can include fever, chills, headache, exhaustion, muscle aches, sore throat, or swollen lymph nodes. Sometimes people may only have the rash.

A person with monkeypox can spread their infection starting when they first develop symptoms, and they remain contagious until their rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed. People who do not have monkeypox symptoms are not considered contagious or a risk to others.

As of Aug. 31, there had been at least 31 pediatric cases of monkeypox in the United States.