Following the announcement by Stockport Council that a case of Monkeypox has been identified, Thorn Grove Primary School (on Woodstock Avenue in Cheadle Hulme) has contacted parents advising that some children at the school should remain home until 15th July. While this will understandably cause some concern it is sensible to take a precautionary approach towards this infection.
We would like to reassure residents that the risk of transmission within the school and wider community is very low, and residents who want to know more about the symptoms of Monkeypox can find this on the NHS website www.nhs.uk/conditions/monkeypox/.
The council has provided a statement about this situation on their website, available here: www.stockport.gov.uk/news/monkeypox-statement-from-the-director-of-public-health-3-july-2022. We all recognise how unwelcome and worrying these situations can be and we’d like to thank those involved for their actions to help to reduce transmission.
Statement from Stockport Council
We are aware that a member of the school community at Thorn Grove primary school has tested positive for Monkeypox.
The member of the school community self-isolated immediately after becoming mildly unwell.
As a result, children and staff who were in close proximity with this individual, have been written to and asked to stay away from school and avoid contact with other young children, and those who are pregnant or have weakened immune systems, for 21 days.
Jennifer Connolly, Director of Public Health said:
“We would like to reassure residents that the risk of transmission within the school is very low, however Monkeypox can affect anyone, and it can be passed on through prolonged close physical contact, or sharing things like clothing and towels and sharing of equipment.
We recognise that any period of home schooling is unwelcome and challenging for families. These steps are important for the health and safety of these children and families, the wider school community, and other residents, even if the risk is low. We would like to that these families for their support with this.”
Residents who want to know the symptoms of Monkeypox can find this on the NHS website www.nhs.uk/conditions/monkeypox/ .
Advice from NHS England
The following advice is taken from the NHS England website:
How you get Monkeypox
Monkeypox can spread from person to person through:
• touching clothing, bedding or towels used by someone with the monkeypox rash
• touching monkeypox skin blisters or scabs (including during sex)
• the coughs or sneezes of a person with the monkeypox rash
Although more people have been diagnosed with it recently, only a small number of people in the UK have had monkeypox and the risk remains low.
You're extremely unlikely to have monkeypox if:
• you have not been in close contact (such as touching their skin or sharing bedding) with someone who has monkeypox or has monkeypox symptoms
• you have not recently travelled to west or central Africa
Anyone can get monkeypox. Currently most cases have been in men who are gay, bisexual or have sex with men, so it's particularly important to be aware of the symptoms if you're in these groups.
Symptoms of monkeypox
If you get infected with monkeypox, it usually takes between 5 and 21 days for the first symptoms to appear.
The first symptoms of monkeypox include:
• a high temperature
• a headache
• muscle aches
• backache
• swollen glands
• shivering (chills)
• exhaustion
A rash usually appears 1 to 5 days after the first symptoms. The rash often begins on the face, then spreads to other parts of the body. This can include the genitals.
The rash is sometimes confused with chickenpox. It starts as raised spots, which turn into small blisters filled with fluid. These blisters eventually form scabs which later fall off.
The symptoms usually clear up in a few weeks.
Treatment for Monkeypox
Monkeypox is usually mild and most people recover within a few weeks without treatment.
But as the infection can spread through close contact, it's important to isolate if you're diagnosed with it.
You may be asked to isolate at home if your symptoms are mild.
If your symptoms are severe or you're at higher risk of getting seriously ill (for example, if you have a weakened immune system), you may need to stay in a specialist hospital until you recover.
You may be offered a vaccination to reduce the risk of getting seriously ill.
Further Information
For further information, see the NHS England website here: www.nhs.uk/conditions/monkeypox/
Advice from Thorn Grove Primary School
The latest advice from Thorn Grove Primary School is for some students to remain at home and not go into school until 15th July. Parents whose children are affected by this have been contacted by the school and advised of this.