Monkeypox Case Reported at IDEA Public Schools Campus in North Houston

Author: Edeh Kelechi 

Monkeypox has spread to Houston schools. According to reports, the virus was identified on two different campuses on Monday, one in north Houston and the other in Fort Bend ISD. 

IDEA public school officials reported the monkeypox incidence on the North Houston campus.

IDEA Public Schools, Hardy Campus

IDEA Public Schools is a network of charter schools with locations in four states. Additionally, the IDEA Hardy campus, located at 1930 Little York Road, reported a case of monkeypox. 

However, IDEA Public Schools representatives declined to comment on whether a staff member or a student was involved in the case, citing privacy concerns.

They issue a statement saying, “we are working closely with the Harris County Public Health (HCPH) to identify and provide advice to anyone who may have been exposed to the virus.” Furthermore, the HCPH asserts that the Houston Health Department has jurisdiction over the matter.

“IDEA Hardy facility staff undertook a deep cleaning of all facilities and wiped off classrooms and regularly touched surfaces,” the officials continued in their statement. 

The school administration added that it informs families about the virus but did not specify whether the campus would need to be shut down in whole or part.

A false case?

HCPH announced a monkeypox case involving a two-year-old last Wednesday, but it was a false positive test result. It was not immediately clear whether the child got the rash in a preschool or a classroom.

IDEA Hardy is a new school that opened in 2020. It currently has approximately 450 pupils in Kindergarten through 8th grade. It also started classes for the academic year on August 4th.

Ridge Point High School

Another case of monkeypox has been verified in Fort Bend ISD. According to accounts, the virus was contracted by a student at Ridge Point High School in Missouri City.

“Fort Bend County Health and Human Services are looking into the case,” Fort Bend district officials said in a statement Monday evening.

They also stated that they had informed the families and employees of Ridge Point High School about the situation. 

In addition, epidemiologists are performing contact tracing to detect potential exposures.

How many monkeypox cases have been reported in Harris County?

Harris County accounted for more than 500 of the 1426 confirmed cases in Texas as of Friday. The Harris County figure includes 426 Houston Health Department cases.

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS), the Houston region has recorded 600 cases.

The following counties have the most recent incidences of monkeypox:

• Chambers County – 1
• Fort Bend – 21
• Galveston County – 1 confirmed

Summary

Monkeypox cases were recorded in the Houston region on Monday. One is in north Houston, while the other is in Fort Bend ISD. According to sources, both schools’ cases are being investigated, and contact tracing is being conducted to identify individuals exposed to the virus. More details concerning this case will be made public in the following weeks.