Stay Up-To-Date on Monkeypox

The spread of Monkeypox around the United States has been an alarming topic in today’s News. With cases on the rise, it is important to decrease the spread of Monkeypox by using the proper disinfectants on high-traffic surfaces.

There are a list of preventative measures the CDC is recommending to help prevent Monkeypox (1). These include:

• Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like Monkeypox.
• Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with Monkeypox.
• Do not kiss, hug, cuddle or have sex with someone with Monkeypox.
• Do not share eating utensils or cups with a person with Monkeypox.
• Do not handle or touch the bedding, towels, or clothing of a person with Monkeypox.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• In Central and West Africa, avoid contact with animals that can spread Monkeypox virus, usually rodents and primates. Also, avoid sick or dead animals, as well as bedding or other materials they have touched.

Though there are no EPA approved disinfectants specifically against Monkeypox at this time, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released its Emerging Viral Pathogens (EVP) Policy with the List Q of qualified products that are eligible to make off-label claims against Monkeypox.

KSS Enterprises has many disinfectants that are on List Q and have demonstrated effectiveness against viruses similar to Monkeypox on hard, nonporous surfaces when used properly, including allowing for proper dwell times.

Please view the list of products that are on the List Q for emerging pathogens by manufacturer below:

Facts About Monkeypox (2):

• Monkeypox is not related to Chickenpox, but is similar to Smallpox
• First discovered in 1958 in a colony of monkeys
• The first human case was discovered in 1970
• Monkeypox was only reported in African Countries until 2022
• People who got Monkeypox usually received the virus through imported animals
• Monkeypox can be spread person-to-person or from animal-to-person
• Symptoms include:
  • fever
  • headache
  • swollen lymph nodes
  • chills
  • muscle aches
  • exhaustion
  • rash/blisters
• Monkeypox is not usually fatal, but can last 2-4 weeks

Information about Monkeypox is rapidly changing. The most up-to-date information can be found online at https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/about.html

1. https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/prevention.html
2. https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/about.html