A school district in Fairfax, OK in Osage County has cancelled classes around the Thanksgiving holiday due to infectious mononucleosis. According to a Woodland Public Schools district website announcement last week:

mono
Tongue and palate of patient with infectious mononucleosis/CDC

After consulting with local and county health officials, a decision was made to cancel all classes and school activities for November 20, November 24 and November 25.  The closure is due to a high infection frequency of mononucleosis in our community.  During the closure, all school buildings will be thoroughly disinfected in hopes of curbing the spread of this virus.

Infectious mononucleosis, also called “mono,” is a contagious disease. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the most common cause of infectious mononucleosis, but other viruses can also cause this disease.

It is common among teenagers and young adults, especially college students. At least 25% of teenagers and young adults who get infected with EBV will develop infectious mononucleosis.

Typically, the viruses that cause mono are spread most commonly through bodily fluids, especially saliva. However, these viruses can also spread through blood and semen during sexual contact, blood transfusions, and organ transplantations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Symptoms of infectious mononucleosis usually appear 4 to 6 weeks after you get infected. Symptoms may include fever, sore throat, swollen glands and a feeling of tiredness which usually last for several weeks, but can persist for a few months. Very young children may not develop any symptoms after being infected or have other symptoms indistinguishable from the mild, brief illnesses of childhood.

Fairfax, is located in the southwestern section of the Osage Indian Reservation in Osage County. The population was 1,380 at the 2010 census,

 

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