Recognizing Monkeypox in Early Child Care

General hygiene guidelines such as sanitizing, disinfecting, and excluding for signs/symptoms of illness in the Early Child Care Environment are still effective ways to prevent disease transmission.

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World Health Organization declared Monkeypox to be a Public Health Emergency

On July 23^rd, the World Health Organization declared Monkeypox to be a Public Health Emergency. Shortly following this announcement, the United States declared a National Health Emergency on August 4^th. For decades, Monkeypox has spread in Central and Western Africa. It is a close relative of Smallpox, a disease that was declared eradicated by the World Health Organization in 1980. Vaccines and treatments that exist for Smallpox are likely to be effective against Monkeypox as well. The Biden administration’s emergency declaration will allow the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to authorize measures to prevent, diagnose, or treat Monkeypox without having to follow the agency’s usual lengthy review. It also gives the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) more access to case reporting data nationwide.

Recognizing Monkeypox - visual examples of Monkeypox

Symptoms & Signs of Monkeypox

While rarely fatal, Monkeypox can be incredibly painful. Symptoms usually appear one to two weeks after infection and range from mild to severe including: fever, headache, muscle and back aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough. A characteristic rash can develop on the face, inside the mouth, on hands, feet, chest, genitals, or anus. The lesions that appear look like pimples or blisters, depending on the stage of the rash. Some people may have all these symptoms, and some may only experience the rash. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks, and the rash progresses through multiple stages before crusting over and then completely healing.

Monkeypox is spread through direct person-to-person contact or through indirect contact with contaminated objects or linens. Examples of contaminated objects that could cause transmission are soiled linens, towels, or shared clothing. Transmission can occur through contact with the rash, scabs, or fluid from the blisters that form during infection. Monkeypox can also spread through respiratory secretions during prolonged face-to-face contact. This disease can be transmitted during sexual activity due to the nature of skin-to-skin or close body contact, but it is not exclusively transmitted through sexual activity. A person is considered contagious from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed and a new layer of skin has formed. The CDC recommends vaccination for people who have been exposed to Monkeypox. The CDC urges anybody who has symptoms of Monkeypox to talk with their healthcare provider even if they do not think they have encountered someone who has Monkeypox.

Monkeypox in Early Child Care Environments

General hygiene guidelines such as sanitizing, disinfecting, and excluding for signs/symptoms of illness in the Early Child Care Environment are still effective ways to prevent disease transmission. Daily wellness checks should be performed, and children excluded for any symptoms as outlined in the KDHE Guidelines for Exclusion. Per these guidelines, a child should be excluded for any rash of unknown origin until a physician determines the rash to be noncontagious. Continue following and encouraging hand hygiene practices and cough and sneeze etiquette amongst adults and children. It is also a good idea to develop and follow a regular cleaning and disinfecting schedule for your entire facility. This includes regular laundering or removal of dress up clothing from dramatic play areas and keeping children’s clothing and bedding separated in cubbies or compartments.

Contact Your Child Care Health Consultant

For assistance reviewing your illness and exclusion policy, or developing a cleaning plan specific to your daycare, you can contact Child Care Health Consultants at (785) 823-3343 and request to speak with the Nurse Consultant in your area, through our website at www.ks.childcareaware.org, or by emailing cchc@ks.childcareaware.org.

Child Care Health Consultant Network

References:

NYT As Monkeypox Spreads, U.S. Declares a Health Emergency (msn.com)
Forbes WHO Calls Monkeypox A Global Health Emergency (forbes.com)
CDC 2022 U.S. Monkeypox Outbreak | Monkeypox | Poxvirus | CDC
- Methods of transmission Frequently Asked Questions | Monkeypox | Poxvirus | CDC
KDHE Guidelines for Exclusion CCL-037-Guidelines-for-Exclusion-PDF (ks.gov)

Erica Goldsby

Child Care Nurse Consultant, Child Care Aware of Kansas

Erica has a Bachelors in Science of Nursing MWSU and a Masters of Public Health KSU. She has five years experience working at Fort Riley engaged with Child and Youth Services programs as a Public Health Nurse and Child and Youth Services Nurse. She has worked with children ages 6 weeks-18 years with a variety of special needs. She is an American Heart Association HeartSaver Instructor. Taught daycare providers at Fort Riley about Medication Administration, Communicable Diseases, Bloodborne Pathogens, and Diabetes.
Jessica Gable

Child Care Nurse Consultant, Child Care Aware of Kansas

Jessica works as a nurse consultant from her hometown of Derby. Before joining Child Care Aware of Kansas in 2022, she worked as a pediatric home health nurse. Jessica holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. In her free time, she enjoys being creative with self-portrait photography and trying out new recipes!