A single case of monkeypox at one Boston school

BPS alerted parents this morning that "an adult member of our BPS community has been diagnosed with monkeypox."

The e-mail, does not say which school the person works at, but adds: "If you did not receive an individual call or a specific school communication, your school community is not affected." BPS says it worked with the Boston Public Health Commission to alert any of the person's contacts as well as people at his or her school.

Also:

In general, the risk of monkeypox transmission to the community remains very low.

While this may be difficult to process, especially after the last several school years, we want you to know that we are here for you. We assure you that we are doing everything to ensure the health and safety of all our schools.

The Boston Public Health Commission says:

Anyone can get or spread monkeypox. Monkeypox is most commonly spread through close and sustained intimate contact, including:

• Direct “skin to skin” or “skin to mouth” contact with monkeypox rash, sores, or scabs:
• Sexual contact
• Touching, hugging, massaging, kissing
• Prolonged face to face contact with respiratory droplets from a person with monkeypox (less common)
• Pregnant people can spread the virus to their fetus through the placenta
• Animal to human transmission is also possible, ex. by being scratched or bitten by the animal or by preparing or eating meat or using products from an infected animal.