Monkeypox: ‘Younger children are not very susceptible;’ Local doctor says with school approaching

DAYTON — The United States declared monkeypox a public health emergency Thursday to help build the federal response.

>>US declares monkeypox a public health emergency

News Center 7′s James Brown spoke with Dr. Thomas Huth, vice president of Medical Affairs for Reid Health, about monkeypox.

He asked Dr. Huth with kids getting ready to go back to school, if they get the virus, what could it do to them?

“It appears fortunately that younger children are not very susceptible, at least outside of a congregate environment,” Huth said.

In all U.S. cases, less than 1% have been in children and exactly two or three cases out of about 6,600 in the United State, according to Huth.

>>Previous Story: Monkeypox cases are on the rise in Ohio

“I don’t know how that will change once kids get back to school and get in to congregate situations,” he told Brown. “We know kids share their food, they may share their clothing, they may sit very close together.”

Huth says schools will have to do a good job of trying to space kids and let them know how to protect themselves and use good hand hygiene, handwashing.

>>Previous Story: Monkeypox: World Health Organization declares virus a global emergency

News Center 7′s James Brown also asked Dr. Huth if we could see the same protocols like we did with Covid-19.

“Some of that because it’s good infection prevention, good infection control,” he said. “The handwashing, some of the distancing, particularly in crowds when you don’t know people.”

Huth thinks the respiratory droplet spread is less of an issue and does not believe there will be any widespread masking over monkeypox and does not foresee any lockdowns as well.

As for vaccines for monkeypox, the two-shot vaccine is only available to people ages 18 and older.

Huth says it is in limited supply and will got to those who are at high-risk for the virus.

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