LOS ANGELES — With many Los Angeles County students returning to school this week and thousands of young people headed back to California universities this month and next, there's a rising concern about the potential for monkeypox outbreaks in academic and social environments.
But public health experts continue to assure parents and families that the risk for the rare illness remains low for most people, especially in clothed, mostly distanced settings, such as schools.
"I want to emphasize that the risk of monkeypox in the general population remains low," said Dr. Rita Singhal, chief medical officer for the Los Angeles Department of Public Health. "Brief interactions such as casual conversations or walking by someone with monkeypox pose low risk.
