CloroxPro Blog – Professional Cleaning and Disinfection Insights

A blog from industry experts devoted to public health awareness, best practices, and the role of environmental cleaning and disinfection, to promote safer, healthier public spaces.

Mpox alert: What are the latest disinfection recommendations? https://www.cloroxpro.ca/blog/mpox-alert-what-are-the-latest-disinfection-recommendations/ October 4, 2024 https://www.cloroxpro.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/GettyImages-2167094426.jpg
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Mpox alert: What are the latest disinfection recommendations?

It’s been a key feature in the news over the past few months — the mpox virus. Declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization (WHO) on August 14, 2024, the combination of a surge of mpox cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Africa, and the emergence of a new strain (clade Ib), has health authorities on high alert.1,2

Here in Canada, an outbreak of clade II mpox has been ongoing since 2022. And in certain areas, cases are currently rising.1

While international government bodies work hard to stop the spread of mpox, what can you do to help safeguard your space – be it your home, school or healthcare facility? Here, we give you a quick review of mpox, how it’s transmitted, and why careful cleaning and disinfection is so important.

Mpox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus; cases are usually found in central and western Africa. There are two genetically distinct clades of monkeypox virus: clade I and clade II. On 13 May 2022, the WHO was notified of laboratory-confirmed human cases of monkeypox in the United Kingdom (UK). Then, on May 19, the Public Health Agency of Canada confirmed the first two human cases of monkeypox in Canada. Many other countries have since followed suit. 

Common symptoms of mpox are a skin rash or lesions that can last about 2–4 weeks. These can go along with a headache, fever, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes. Most recover from clade II, but in some, mpox can cause severe illness.

The mpox virus spreads through close contact with an infected person. That means, you can get it through direct contact with their body fluids, respiratory droplets, and/or mpox sores, or by sharing clothing, bedding or common items (e.g. towels) that have been contaminated with their body fluids or sores.

As you can see, this has real implications for shared spaces. Fortunately, following recommended protocols and using appropriate disinfectants on hard, non-porous surfaces may help to curb transmission. 

Along with hand hygiene, covering skin lesions, masking for patients and wearing proper personal protective equipment (PPE), careful cleaning and disinfection is vital. How can it help? First, a little virus background.

There are 2 types of viruses: enveloped (the virus has a fat-based envelope), and non-enveloped. Fortunately, the mpox virus is an enveloped virus. Surface disinfectants target these envelopes, to inactivate the virus. Because non-enveloped viruses don’t have these envelopes, they’re harder to kill with surface disinfectants. And that means, disinfectants that work against them will likely also work against enveloped viruses.

When an emerging viral pathogen like mpox comes on the scene and few disinfectants have been tested and approved for its use, Health Canada’s policy is to reference existing information they have on disinfectants’ effectiveness against harder-to-kill non-enveloped viruses.

All surfaces touched by the infected person should be cleaned and disinfected with Health Canada approved disinfectants (with Drug Identification Numbers), as per the manufacturers’ guidance. This includes things like chairs and public bathrooms, but pay special attention to frequently touched surfaces, such as:

  • tabletops
  • countertops
  • doorknobs
  • faucet handles
  • call bell pulls
  • wall surfaces that may have been frequently touched by the patient – e.g. light switches
  • computer keyboards

For a surface that’s visibly dirty, first clean it with regular cleaning products, then use a disinfectant – always following the directions on the label (including diluting bleach). For floors or hard surfaces, use a mop or cloth with disinfectant instead of sweeping or dusting – so you avoid spreading infectious particles around.5

Right after use, all reusable equipment should be cleaned and disinfected with Health Canada approved disinfectants (with Drug Identification Numbers), as per the manufacturers’ recommendations. Within healthcare facilities, make sure to dedicate patient care equipment to one patient.

Caring for someone with mpox at home? Remember to keep contaminated waste separate from other household waste. Put it in a strong, leak-proof bag, tie it securely, and double bag it. Then, put it in an animal-proof garbage bin to be picked up. Remember to wash your hands right afterwards!

Wear appropriate PPE (gloves, gown/long clothing, a medical mask and eye protection) when handling laundry. Put it in a leak-proof bag, tie it, then put inside another bag. Remember to keep contaminated laundry away from your skin and clothing. And don’t shake it, as it can spread infectious particles.

*NOTE: The following CloroxProTM cleaner disinfectants have demonstrated effectiveness against viruses similar to mpox on hard, nonporous surfaces and can be used against the mpox virus when used according to the directions for use against the virus listed for each product on hard, non-porous surfaces. For a full list of Disinfectants for Emerging Viral Pathogens (EVPs), please see: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/disinfectants/emerging-viral-pathogens.html.

  • Alcohol-free, bleach-free and non-corrosive.
  • Kills 50 bacteria and viruses in 1 minute or less, including 13 antibiotic-resistant ones. 
  • Kills C. auris in 3 minutes and M. tuberculosis in 1 minute. 
  • Less residue, easy on surfaces, multi-surface cleaner disinfectant ideal for daily use in high turn-over areas on hard surfaces. 
  • Available in clinical canister and EVS bucket wipe size formats.
  • 50 pathogens killed in 2 minutes or less (bacteria, viruses and fungi]
  • Low odour, low residue, non-bleach
  • Can be used daily on pieces of portable and mobile healthcare facility equipment.
  • Free from bleach, alcohol, phosphates and quat.
  • Health Canada-registered to kill 99.9% of germs in 2 minutes.  
  • Sanitizes in 15 seconds.
  • Effective against a wide range of bacteria and viruses including E. coli, kleb, salmonella, staph, strep, MRSA, Influenza A virus, RSV, Human Coronavirus (cold virus), norovirus, rhinovirus and the SARS-CoV-2 virus.