Member of Boston Public Schools community diagnosed with monkeypox

BOSTON — A member of the Boston Public Schools community has been diagnosed with monkeypox, officials announced Monday.

In a letter to the school community, Acting Superintendent Dr. Drew Echelson and Incoming Superintendent Mary Skipper wrote, “An adult member of our BPS community has been diagnosed with monkeypox.”

The school system worked closely with the Boston Public Health Commission and the affected person to identify and notify exposed individuals, officials said.

When asked about the situation, Mayor Michelle Wu stopped short of identifying the infected member, citing privacy concerns.

“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 of our schools,” Echelson and Skipper added.

The infected person will isolate at home until it is safe to be around others, while exposed contacts may continue their normal activities as long as they do not have symptoms consistent with monkeypox.

The building impacted by the monkeypox case was disinfected over the weekend.

Monkeypox is a rare disease that spreads through inhalation of respiratory droplets from an infected person or some contact with the lesions the virus causes. You can also get the virus by contact with bodily fluids or by having contact with such things as an infected person’s bed linens.

Symptoms include:

• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Backache
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Chills
• Exhaustion
• Fever

The BPHC says it will offer vaccines to those who we have identified as exposed contacts.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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