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DisinfectionJuly 15, 2022
The Monkeypox Outbreak: Essential Information to Know as the Virus Spreads Worldwide
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, viruses have remained at the forefront of people’s minds. Now, there is more interest in preventing illnesses than ever before, but understanding the signs and best plan of action is still difficult to ensure. Restrictions in the U.S. have begun to ease, but the rise of infectious illnesses like Monkeypox haven’t slowed down.
According to the new Centers of Disease Control and Prevention Special Report “COVID-19: U.S. Impact on Antimicrobial Resistance” there is an ongoing potential pandemic threat in the U.S. across the healthcare sector, food supply chains, the environment, and the community overall. The CDC revealed that more than 3 million Americans acquire an antimicrobial-resistant infection or C. difficile infection evert year, and nearly 50,000 people die from them. A January 2022 report shows that antimicrobial resistance is a leading cause of death globally, with the highest number of deaths in low-resource countries.
As of July 2022, there have been 929 reported cases of Monkeypox in the U.S. But with Monkeypox on the rise, there is still a great lack of understanding around what this rare disease is and how to stop a potential outbreak of it.
In this blog post, we will discuss the signs and symptoms of Monkeypox and preventative measures organizations can take to minimize the spread of infectious diseases.
What is Monkeypox
Monkeypox is an infectious virus that is part of the same family as smallpox, which has diminished globally over time. While Monkeypox usually infects rodents, it has sometimes caused serious illness in humans, which is significant as diseases can evolve and spread quickly. Even though the virus is not as contagious or as deadly as COVID-19, it’s necessary to take into account the seriousness of an outbreak.
Monkeypox generally transmits by close contact with lesions, body fluids, and contaminated materials. However, it is not a respiratory virus like COVID-19, and people with Monkeypox remain infectious while they have symptoms. In humans, the symptoms of Monkeypox are similar to the symptoms of smallpox—although milder—but still include fever, swollen lymph nodes, and headaches. Other symptoms of can include headaches, muscle aches and backache, chills, exhaustion, and a rash that looks like pimples or blisters that appears on various parts of the body
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported a 77% weekly increase in the number of lab-confirmed Monkeypox cases, showing how quickly the disease can spread. Additionally, according to a German study, scientists detected that the Monkeypox virus existed on surfaces of multiple hospital rooms. The findings showed that all surfaces “directly touched” by patients’ hands had viral contamination, and the highest viral loads were on the surfaces in patient bathrooms.
Furthermore, reports showed that the U.S. isn’t the only country that is currently dealing with Monkeypox—it is rapidly becoming a global problem. Data showed that many of the infected individuals who contracted the virus had traveled internationally. The WHO said it counted 6,027 laboratory-confirmed cases of Monkeypox from 59 countries.
While over 80% of the cases are taking place in Europe, it’s important to remember how quickly COVID-19 spread, so responding accordingly is necessary to curb a potential outbreak. With studies confirming that Monkeypox virus lies on the surface, utilizing a whole room disinfectant solution is an important way to minimize the spread.
Ensure Your Chose Disinfectant is Effective Against Monkeypox
Due to the infection’s spreading, it’s critical to ensure your chosen disinfection solution has been proven to be effective against Monkeypox. But when rare viruses cause outbreaks of disease, there are usually very few disinfectants have already been tested and registered for use against that specific pathogen. To prepare for potential outbreaks, the EPA created the EVP guidance, a process that allows manufacturers to submit data demonstrating their product’s efficacy against viruses.
If an outbreak occurs, the EPA authorizes companies whose products have EVP claims to release information about their product’s expected efficacy against the emerging virus. The EPA created List Q to help people determine if their chosen disinfectant will work against the virus. Using List Q, people can check to ensure the product is registered for use against EVPs by looking up the product’s registration number. Being able to verify that a product is approved and on the list is necessary to ensure that the chosen disinfectant solution can uphold standards and safety.
Recently, Halosil’s HaloMist™ solution was added to the EPA’s List Q because of its effectiveness in mitigating pathogens and its ability to help fight the spread of emerging viruses like Monkeypox. HaloMist™ is an all-in-one solution that consists of a proprietary blend of hydrogen peroxide and antimicrobial silver ion. It applies multiple mechanisms of killing action to attack pathogens present in highly-susceptible environments with the ability of reaching areas beyond the reach of electrostatic sprayers, air purifiers, spray-and-wipe systems, and UV lights.
Mitigate Monkeypox with the Right System
Utilizing a disinfection solution like the Halo Disinfection System® can effectively destroy pathogens like Monkeypox and maintain the highest disinfection standards across complex places and spaces where people live, work, and socialize.
The Halo Disinfection System® pairs HaloMist™ (EPA Reg. No. 84526-6) with the HaloFogger® to ensure the uniform, dry fogging delivery of disinfectant throughout spaces, achieving complete coverage with the highest possible efficacy. Click here to learn more about the Halo Disinfection System®.