Monkeypox Case Confirmed At Gwinnett County Elementary School

DACULA, GA — An adult associated with Gwinnett County Public Schools has tested positive for monkeypox, according to multiple reports citing a letter sent to parents by district officials.

The confirmed case was discovered at Dacula Elementary School, WSB-TV reported. According to district officials, the person will remain off campus until medical staff clears their return.

District officials did not release the person's name citing privacy concerns.

"In accordance with CDC guidelines, GCPS is currently contact tracing and will notify parents of any students considered to be close contacts to the affected individual," the school district's letter read.

District officials said they will contact any parent or guardian whose child could be at risk for infection. If not contacted, district officials said it's "highly unlikely your child was exposed," according to Fox 5 Atlanta.

To date, more than 17,400 monkeypox cases have been reported in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Every state has reported at least one confirmed case.

So far, the highest number of cases have been reported in New York, California, and Florida. Georgia follows at No. 4 with 1,299 cases.

The World Health Organization declared the global spread of monkeypox to be an international emergency in July and the United States declared its own epidemic to be a national emergency earlier this month.

The monkeypox virus mainly spreads through skin-on-skin contact, but it can also transmit through touching linens used by someone with the infection. People with monkeypox may experience fever, body aches, chills and fatigue. Many in the outbreak have developed sometimes-painful zit-like bumps.