Long Beach health officials Tuesday announced the city’s first presumptive case of monkeypox in a child, believed to be only the second pediatric case of the disease in California.
The city is still awaiting confirmation testing by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to verify the case. Health officials said the unidentified child was showing symptoms but has already recovered.
“While news of a pediatric case may cause alarm, please remember that monkeypox is still rare, is much more difficult to get than COVID-19 and other common childhood illnesses, and is rarely dangerous,” Long Beach Health Officer Dr. Anissa Davis said in a statement.
“Most childhood rashes will not be from monkeypox. That said, the rash can be very uncomfortable and could pose a threat to vulnerable populations, so we urge everyone to call their healthcare provider if they have a new or unusual rash or have been in contact with someone who has monkeypox.”
Long Beach, which has its own health department separate from the county, has identified 20 confirmed and probable cases of monkeypox. According to a statement from the city, of all the people who have contracted the virus, “no one has required hospitalization and all are either recovered or are isolating and recovering at home.”
Long Beach officials said the pediatric case is “a reminder that everyone, regardless of age or sexual orientation, can get monkeypox if they come into contact with the virus.”
According to the CDC, monkeypox can spread through close or prolonged skin-to-skin or face-to-face contact, including between household members. This can include hugging, kissing, cuddling, holding and feeding. It can also spread through contaminated materials, such as cups, bedding, clothing, towels and utensils.
The statement from the city also encouraged parents to “minimize the number of caregivers and limit interaction between siblings, including sharing toys, clothing, linens and bedding.”
Residents can visit www.longbeach.gov/monkeypox for up-to-date facts on monkeypox.
