Stay alert: Health experts tell students, teachers amid rise in COVID-19, monkeypox cases

As most schools and colleges are reopening from June 1 health experts have cautioned parents schools and children to be on guard in view of the increase in COVID19 cases alert for monkeypox as well as monsoonrelated seasonal fluldquoAs schools begin to prepare for opening in early June itrsquos time to remind students teachers parents and support staff to start preparing for health safety at school With communal living and students sharing classroom space spreading colds and viruses is easy if everyone is not careful These tips can help keep everyone from getting sick while COVID and other diseases such as monkeypox continue to linger around usrdquo said Dr Subhash Hira professor of global health at University of WashingtonSeattle and an expert on infectious diseasesDr Hira said ldquoSchools and parents should ensure that the students adhere to safety tips such as washing of hands carrying and using sanitiser wearing masks while in public and during recess The most important one being not going to school if showing symptoms or feeling unwell Apart from this students should be allowed to carry mobile phones so that their parents can be called in case of emergencyrdquoDr Subhash Hira infectious disease expertHe suggested that weekly COVID testing of only students with symptoms and those around them would cut down the transmission risk of the virus and added that this method is working well in most developed countries as early detection helps take preventive stepsMonkeypox virusldquoMonkeypox cases are being reported in forgein countries This family of viruses also causes smallpox and cowpox so this is not completely new for us It causes mild selflimiting illnesses Symptoms are fever headache muscle aches backache swollen lymph nodes chills exhaustion Within one to three days sometimes longer after the appearance of fever the patient develops a rash often beginning on the face then spreading to other parts of the bodyrdquo explained Dr Fazal Nabi director of paediatrics Jaslok HospitalldquoLesions progress through the following stages before falling off macules papules vesicles Pustules scabs The illness typically lasts for 2minus4 weeks In recent times the case fatality ratio has been around 3637 Transmission of monkeypox virus occurs when a person comes into contact with the virus from an animal human or materials contaminated with the virus and enters by respiratory route As this disease has mild symptoms with no chronic sequelae and less mortality additional vaccination with recent serotypes could be considered though not necessary at this point of timerdquo said Dr NabiRegular testing not requiredldquoEven as the schools are reopening there should not be mandatory weekly RTPCR tests for students There have been no such guidelines issued by WHO and it will impose unnecessary mental trauma and fear among children and parentsrdquo said Dr NabiHe added ldquoWe must understand that virulence and changing patterns of disease will demand change of guidelines and protocol Time has come to encourage parents to send their children back to schools and boost their morale Such illogical practices will unnecessarily cause discomfort and children being soft targets should not be mistargeted Even healthcare workers do not undergo regular swab tests unless symptomaticrdquoDr Santosh Bansode Head of the Department Emergency Medicine Wockhardt hospitals Mumbai Central said ldquoInstead of asking for an RTPCR report or rapid antigen tests we must train teachers about symptoms so that they can screen the students Also we must inform all children and their parents to not attend school physically if symptoms are thererdquoNutritious diet a must for kidsDr Santosh Bansode from Wockhardt hospital lists out things to follow to avoid getting infections1 Children who are eligible for the vaccine should take it2 Parents should see to it that their children get an adequate nutritious diet and they donrsquot skip their breakfast and meals3 Children should wear masks when going in crowded areas and they should avoid going too close to other people Parents should teach them about it4 Children should be educated about how diseases like COVID monkeypox and seasonal flu spread5 Any child having any flu symptoms or any rash over the body should not attend school till asymptomatic6 Children should follow frequent hand hygiene7 Schools should maintain a stressfree environment for children8 Parents should distance themselves from children if they have any flu symptoms9 Parents should take their vaccines