Capistrano Unified School District

Parents/Students

Monkeypox Resources

CUSD is committed to maintaining healthy and safe school environments. This resource page is designed to help keep our community informed and to provide information about the Monkeypox (MPX) virus from expert health agencies. Also included is information about CUSD’s planning and protocols, and what families can do to help support healthy campuses.

ABOUT MONKEYPOX (MPX)

According to the most recent information on theCalifornia Department of Public Health’s monkeypox resource page, “The current risk of getting monkeypox in the general public is very low” and primarily spread through “very close and prolonged contact with someone with symptoms.” For detailed information about how monkeypox is spread, visit:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reports that MPX is a rare disease caused by a virus in the same family as smallpox. Monkeypox symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms, but milder, and MPX is rarely fatal. Monkeypox is not related to chickenpox.

To learn more, we encourage you to visit the following expert health agencies:

Monkeypox Resources

Download, print or review a copy of these resources

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PREVENTION

Stay home when sick; this is key in preventing monkeypox, COVID-19 and a range of other illnesses and will go a long way in helping to maintain healthy and safe campuses.

Avoid close contact with people who have symptoms like sores or rashes.
Practice good hand hygiene.
People who become infected should isolate until their symptoms are improving or have gone away completely. A rash should always be well covered until completely healed.
Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) (like a mask, gown and gloves) when caring for others with symptoms.
Avoid contact with infected animals.

SYMPTOMS

The CDC reports that early symptoms of monkeypox are flu-like, and include fever, fatigue, headache, and enlarged lymph nodes. To learn more about monkeypox signs and symptoms, please visit the following sites:

CUSD PROTOCOLS

CUSD is committed to maintaining healthy and safe school environments. As with any infectious disease, CUSD and our schools will monitor the situation and similar to COVID-19, we will follow guidance from expert health agencies such as the CDC, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA). At this time, these agencies are reporting that the “current risk of getting monkeypox in the general public is very low” and in Orange County cases “remain low.”
CUSD has been and will remain in close contact with state and local health agencies and will keep our community informed if health conditions or guidance for our county or schools’ changes.
CUSD schools continue to maintain enhanced COVID-19 cleaning and disinfecting protocols, which are also effective in helping to prevent and limit the spread of monkeypox, along with other illnesses. Additionally, we continue to reinforce good hygiene and healthy habits with students, staff and families, including frequent hand washing/sanitizing and staying home when sick.
When made aware of confirmed positive cases of monkeypox, we will report the case to the local health department as we would any other infectious disease. We will follow OCHCA guidance on notifying those who may have been exposed and complete the recommended sanitation process. We will continue to work in partnership with OCHCA to ensure any cases are handled with extreme diligence.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Keep sick students’ home and report any illness to your child’s school. We understand that missing school for any reason can be stressful. Please contact your school and they will work with you to continue your student’s education and will maintain confidentiality.
Reinforce the importance of good hand hygiene with your student(s) and encourage them to wash their hands and/or use hand sanitizer stations at school. Click here for a CDC handwashing video.
Carefully read the prevention information on this page and from the CDC, the California Department of Public Health and the Orange County Health Care Agency.
Help stop the spread of misinformation. As experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, large amounts of misinformation is often shared online and through various communication channels. Please continue to visit national, state and local expert health agencies for timely and accurate official information. Similar to COVID-19, CUSD follows the guidance and information provided by the CDC, the California Department of Public Health and the Orange County Health Care Agency.
Practice kindness and respect. We understand this may cause concern and stress for some in our community and we ask that our families continue to demonstrate care and respect for others and avoid rumors. If you have a question about your campus, please contact your school.