'Monkeypox': LRSD identifies the first case in its district; warns parents of exposure
LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — Little Rock School District officials announced the identification of the first case of monkeypox in the school district on Thursday.
Letters were sent to parents within the district to notify them of the discovery.
The Arkansas Department of Health said they are working with the district and have sent a second letter of exposure to those who may have had low exposure to the virus.
The district said they are working closely with the health department to follow safety guidelines and health protocols to prevent the further spread of the disease.
ADH and LRSD are urging those who think they may have been exposed to monkeypox or if your child, a parent, or staff of the district currently has the virus, to monitor symptoms until Sept. 20.
Symptoms of monkeypox can include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches and backache
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Chills
- Respiratory symptoms (e. g., sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough)
- A rash that looks like pimples or blisters that appear on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body
Officials said the rash goes through different stages before healing completely and that the illness typically lasts between two and four weeks.
ADH also said if a rash occurs during the 21-day monitoring period, the child or parent should isolate until:
- A healthcare provider can evaluate the rash
- Testing is performed
- The results of the testing are negative
If you have any questions, contact the LRSD Director of Health Services at 501-447-7382 or the ADH monkeypox call line at 1-800-803-7847.
For monkeypox health guidelines; visit https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/community/schools-faq.html
