Schools & Child Care FAQ for Mpox

At this time, the risk of mpox to children and adolescents in the United States is low. The majority of cases to date are occurring in adult populations. Mpox virus can infect anyone – including children – if they have close, personal, often skin-to-skin contact with someone who has mpox. In this outbreak, most cases of mpox have been associated with sexual contact. Although less common in the current outbreak, mpox may also spread by touching contaminated objects (such as toys or eating utensils), fabrics (clothing, bedding, sleeping mats, or towels), and surfaces that have been used by someone with mpox.

Information for teens and young adults is available through a factsheet on What You Need to Know about Mpox if You are a Teen or Young Adult.

Settings should follow their everyday operational guidance that reduces the transmission of infectious diseases. This includes children, staff, and volunteers staying home when sick, allowing virtual options for students who are sick, ensuring access to adequate handwashing supplies, including soap and water, maintaining routine cleaning and disinfection practices (including cleaning sports gear and laundering uniforms), identifying private spaces for assessment of an ill child away from others, and provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff who care for students with infectious diseases. If there is an mpox exposure, the department of health will help in considering appropriate actions to prevent the spread of the virus.

At this time, CDC recommends vaccination for people who have been exposed to mpox and people who may be more likely to get mpox.

At this time, there is no need for widespread vaccination for mpox among children or staff at K-12 schools or early childhood settings. For more information on vaccination against mpox see these answers to frequently asked questions about vaccination.

Currently, the risk of mpox to children and adolescents is low. Several illnesses can cause a rash and fever in children, such as hand-foot-mouth disease and chickenpox (varicella). For a child without a known exposure to mpox, a fever and rash should be evaluated by a medical professional and settings should follow their standard illness policies for these situations. A healthcare provider can determine what treatment or testing the child needs. It is important to avoid stigma and fear-based exclusion of children and adolescents. If a child has a known exposure to mpox (i.e., is being monitored for mpox) and develops symptoms follow information found in “What should we do if a person who has been exposed to mpox develops symptoms while in our setting?”

There are also multiple potential causes of rashes in adults. Parents, teachers, and staff members should understand the symptoms of mpox and see a healthcare provider if they remain concerned. Adults with symptoms of mpox should also:

• Avoid close contact, including sex or being intimate with anyone, until they have been checked out by a healthcare provider.
• Visit a public health clinic near them if they don’t have a provider or health insurance.
• Wear a well-fitting mask when they see a healthcare provider and remind them that this virus is circulating in the area.

If a child, parent, or teacher is being monitored for mpox due to an exposure, refer to “What should we do if a person who has been exposed to mpox develops symptoms while in our setting?” for what to do in these situations.

The department of health will provide guidance for people exposed to mpox on how to monitor for symptoms. Unless a rash develops after exposure, there is not currently a test for mpox. If a rash develops, an individual should follow isolation and prevention practices until (1) the rash can be evaluated by a healthcare provider, (2) testing is performed, if recommended by the healthcare provider, and (3) results of testing are available and are negative.

Visit What to Do if You are a Close Contact of a Person with Mpox for additional information.

If someone with mpox has been in a school, ECE, or other setting serving children or adolescents, the setting should follow their everyday operational guidance to reduce the transmission of infectious diseases and add enhanced cleaning and disinfection.

• Clean the classroom/space: The areas where the person with mpox spent time should be cleaned and disinfected before further use. Focus on disinfecting items and surfaces that were in direct contact with the skin of the person with mpox, or often in the presence of the person with mpox. If unsure, disinfect. Follow the guidance for Disinfecting the Home and Other Non-Healthcare Settings to clean and disinfect surfaces, floors, and shared items such as toys, learning materials, sports equipment, or uniforms used by the person with mpox. Caring for our Children 4.9.0.11 and Caring for Our Children 3.3.0.2 provide information on how to clean and sanitize items that may go into the mouth, like utensils and certain toys. Linens or towels that the person with mpox used should be laundered. Items that cannot be cleaned, disinfected, or laundered should be thrown away. Children, staff (other than those who are cleaning and disinfecting), and volunteers should not enter the area until cleaning and disinfection is completed. General guidance on cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting can be found in Caring for Our Children.
• Support the health department in contact tracing: Contact tracing can help identify people with exposure to someone with mpox and may prevent additional cases. Settings serving children and adolescents should contact their health department if a person with confirmed mpox has been in their facility and should support efforts to identify individuals who might have been exposed to the virus.
• Communicate: Provide information about preventing the spread of mpox to staff members, volunteers, students (when age appropriate), and parents. Keep messages fact-based to avoid introducing stigma.

If there is a case of mpox in a school, ECE, or other setting, administrators should communicate fact-based information to parents and caregivers, including staff members, and avoid introducing stigma.

Some facts on mpox to convey include:

• It is possible for anyone can catch mpox if they have close, personal contact with an infected person. However, at this time, the risk in schools and early childhood settings is low.
• In the current global outbreak, mpox has been much less common among children, and infections have rarely been life-threatening.
• If your child or adolescent is exposed to mpox at home or elsewhere, let the school, ECE, or other setting know, and reach out to your medical provider and local health department, so that you and your child’s school can take necessary precautions to care for your child.
• If there is a case of mpox identified in a staff member, volunteer, child, or adolescent, the department of health will be involved with contact tracing.
• If your child or adolescent was identified as exposed to mpox, you will be contacted by the health department and given guidance on what to do next, including what symptoms to look for that require medical attention.
• There is no need for widespread vaccination for mpox among children or staff at K-12 schools or early childhood settings. However, a vaccine is available that can help prevent mpox in people who have been exposed if it is given soon after exposure. Vaccination should be considered on an individual basis in consultation with the health department.
• Most children can attend school and other school-related activities even if they have had close contact with someone with mpox. The health department will provide specific guidance should an exposure occur.

Mpox causes a rash with lesions that eventually scab over. People with mpox should prioritize isolation and prevention practices until all scabs have fallen off, and a fresh layer of healthy skin has formed. This may take as long as 4 weeks after symptoms began. Caregivers should work with a healthcare provider and the department of health to decide when the child or adolescent can return to the educational setting.

Staff or volunteers who have mpox should isolate and be restricted from the workplace according to CDC’s isolation and prevention practices. Employers should provide flexible, non-punitive sick leave policies for staff members.

• Children, staff, and volunteers who are exposed to a person with mpox do not need to be excluded from an educational setting in most cases.
• In some cases, where there was a high degree of exposure, the health department may consider limiting an individual’s participation in activities where close contact is likely. The health department will consider the age of the individual and their ability to recognize or communicate symptoms, the types of interactions in the environment, and the risk of more severe disease to others in the setting.
• Settings that have children or adolescents in residence, like boarding schools, overnight camps, or other residential environments, should follow considerations for congregate settings.

When someone is exposed to mpox, the department of health decides if the amount of exposure warrants monitoring for mpox symptoms. Monitoring means that an individual, or a parent or caregiver, watches for development of symptoms for 21 days after the exposure.

If a staff member or volunteer, under monitoring for mpox, develops symptoms, whether at home or while in the setting, they should isolate at home, be medically evaluated, and contact the local health department.

If a child or adolescent develops symptoms while in a school, ECE, or other setting:

• The child should:
  • Be separated from other children or adolescents in a private space (such as an office).
  • If at least 2 years old, wear a well-fitting mask (the linked guidance was developed for COVID-19, but is applicable to mask wear for mpox).
  • Be picked up by a caregiver so they can receive medical assessment.
• Staff who are monitoring a child or adolescent should:
  • Avoid close contact, if possible, but continue to attend to the child in an age-appropriate manner (for example, changing soiled diapers, calming an upset toddler).
  • Avoid touching the rash, if present, and cover the rash area with clothing if possible.
  • Wear a respirator (preferred) or a well-fitting mask if not available.
  • If close contact is required (for example, holding the child), gowns/smocks and gloves should be used if available.
  • Wash hands routinely and after the child has been picked up or touched.
  • Change, and launder, or throw away any soiled clothes, gloves, or smocks.

• Typically, if the caregiver with mpox can follow the guidance on isolating at home and the child can mask during contact with the caregiver, the child should be able to attend the school, ECE, or other setting.
• It is important to treat the child and family in a non-stigmatizing manner and remember that mpox can transmit through close contact, which may include, but is not limited to, sexual activity. Most children who have caregivers with mpox should be able to attend school and other programs. Communication with the family should avoid introducing stigma.
• The educational setting may choose to contact the state or local health department for further guidance, especially if the child or caregiver cannot adhere to the guidance on isolating at home, including masking for the child when in contact with the caregiver.

• Children and adolescents who are exposed to mpox should be monitored for symptoms for 21 days.
• Some symptoms in young children may be difficult to recognize promptly. When monitoring a child for illness following exposure to mpox, parents and caregivers should check the child’s temperature daily. Parents and caregivers should also perform daily full-body skin checks for a new rash and inspect the inside of the mouth for any sores or ulcers on young children.
• In older children and adolescents, parents can help with inspection of the mouth and exposed skin areas that may be difficult for the child or adolescent to see (back of neck, arms, legs). They can also remind the child and adolescent to be aware of any rash or pain in areas covered by clothing, including the genitals, and to inspect those areas for rash and let the parent know if they notice any changes in their skin or feel any pain in those areas.
• If a child or adolescent develops symptoms while at home, the parent or caregiver should contact the local health department and their healthcare provider. The child should not return to the educational setting until medically assessed.

• Ideally, another adult in the household without mpox should serve as primary caregiver, when possible.
• If a child cannot be completely separated from the parent or caregiver with mpox, the parent or caregiver should continue to care for the child in an age-appropriate manner including regular interaction based on the physical and emotional needs of the child.
  • During interactions, the parent or caregiver should cover their rash with clothing, gloves, or bandages, wear a well-fitting mask, and follow other prevention practices.
  • The child or adolescent, if 2 years of age or older, should wear a well-fitting mask or respirator (the linked guidance was developed for COVID-19, but is applicable to mask wear for mpox) during interactions with the parent or caregiver.
  • The guidance for Disinfecting the Home and Other Non-Healthcare Settings to clean and disinfect surfaces, floors, and shared items used by the person with mpox should be followed.
  • The parent should work with their doctor and their health department for further guidance on the child’s activities outside the home.
• It is also important to discuss vaccination for exposed children with the health department. A vaccine is available that can help prevent mpox in people who have been exposed if it is given soon after exposure.