What is Monkeypox? How to Prevent the Spread of this Emerging Virus

In this post:

• What is the monkeypox virus?
• How is the monkeypox virus transmitted?
• Which Zogics products help stop the spread of the monkeypox virus

Beginning in May 2022, the CDC raised the global level of threat (including the United States) for the monkeypox virus to Alert - Level 2, Practice Enhanced Precautions. To date, there are 48 states that have reported cases of monkeypox (over 6000 cases total as of August 3, 2022). What is monkeypox, and what can you do to help protect your staff from this virus? We'll take a look.

What is monkeypox?

Per the CDC, Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with monkeypox virus. Monkeypox occurs throughout Central and West Africa, often near tropical rainforests.

Symptoms include fever (≥100.4°F), headache, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes, followed by a rash. Lesions typically develop at the same time and evolve together on any given part of the body. Lesions progress through several stages before falling off (macules, papules, vesicles, pustules, scabs). Patients are usually ill for 2–4 weeks.

Monkeypox is fatal in as many as 1 to 11% of people who become infected. Prior vaccination against smallpox may provide protection against monkeypox.

How do you contract monkeypox?

People usually become infected with the monkeypox virus through contact with the skin lesions or bodily fluids of infected animals or humans (alive or dead), including respiratory droplets, or through contact with materials contaminated with the virus.

What can you do to prevent the spread of monkeypox?

• Avoid close contact with sick people, including those with skin lesions or genital lesions.
• Avoid contact with dead or live wild animals such as small mammals including rodents (rats, squirrels) and non-human primates (monkeys, apes).
• Avoid eating or preparing meat from wild game (bushmeat) or using products derived from wild animals from Africa (creams, lotions, powders).
• Avoid contact with contaminated materials used by sick people (such as clothing, bedding, or materials used in healthcare settings) or that came into contact with infected animals.
• Disinfect hard surfaces with Zogics Antibacterial Disinfecting Wipes. Our Disinfecting Wipes have demonstrated effectiveness against viruses similar to the monkeypox virus on hard non-porous surfaces in just 1 minute. Therefore, this product can be used against the monkeypox virus when used in accordance with the directions for use against Human Rotavirus (ATCC VR-2018) on hard non-porous surfaces.
• Practice healthy hand hygiene: wash hands regularly, and use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Zogics Antibacterial Disinfecting Wipes have demonstrated effectiveness against viruses similar to the monkeypox virus on hard non-porous surfaces in just 1 minute.

For those who work in healthcare, the best way to control the spread of the virus is by following standard cleaning and disinfection procedures, using an EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant with an emerging viral pathogen claim. As always, follow the manufacturer’s directions for concentration, contact time, and care and handling.

If working at a facility with a known case, or if there's a known case in your facility, activities such as dry dusting, sweeping, or vacuuming should be avoided. Wet cleaning methods are preferred. Management of food service items should also be performed in accordance with routine procedures.

The ThinkLite Flair Air Safety Monitor

Air purification systems that detect and remove viral loads of monkeypox in a room should be considered. Air monitors must be able to measure particles in the 0.1 to 2.5 range. Correspondingly, an air purifier must be able to filter and eliminate particles in this size range, the equivalent of a MERV 19 grade filter, to protect occupants from monkeypox. The ThinkLite Flair air monitor offers this level of precision monitoring, and both the Purilux in-ceiling LED air purifier and ICON portable air purifier are equipped for MERV 19 grade filtering down to the 0.1-micron level.

CDC is tracking multiple cases of monkeypox and is urging healthcare providers in the U.S. to be alert for patients who have rash illnesses consistent with monkeypox. Stay on top of developments with the monkeypox virus here.

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