How does monkeypox spread

As the monkeypox outbreak continues to become more serious, and with the United States today declaring the virus a public health emergency, some may be ...

Disinfecting your home and space to make sure there's no fomites is certainly the best way to make sure the virus isn't spreading to other roommates or guests, but the best thing a person can do is avoid that close contact. "If you're in the proximity of someone who has the infection, then it's probably a good idea to use a bleach-related product, but I don't think that we need to be walking around in hazmat suits to not catch this," Chanda added. Monkeypox, which is classified as a Tier 1 virus, can be killed by a long list of household products for hard surfaces, including products with standard active ingredients like bleach, hydrogen peroxide, and ethyl alcohol. This is especially true if the contaminated object is a non-porous—a tabletop counter, light switch, or appliance, for example. The large majority of infections seem to be happening from direct person-to-person contact, said Sumit Chanda, PhD, a professor of immunology and microbiology at Scripps Research. The same is true for bodily fluids or respiratory secretions of a person infected with monkeypox.

Can monkeypox be spread through swimming pools? No specific studies have been done, but most experts believe that it is unlikely because of the nature of ...

Monkeypox is endemic in several countries in Africa, but a rapid spread in North America and other countries without high rates of vaccination against the disease is causing concern. Routine vaccination of the American public against smallpox stopped in 1972. There are a number of reasons why, including that most gym equipment is not very porous, and therefore easy to wipe off with proper cleaning practices that have become standard in gyms to fight the spread of other diseases like MRSA. That fatty membrane is easily broken by cleaning agents, destroying the virus. The disease tends to be more serious in people who are immunocompromised and children. The World Health Organization (WHO) says that the fatality rate of modern monkeypox has been around 3% to 6%, with different variants of the virus causing more severe symptoms.

On Thursday, the Biden Administration declared monkeypox a public health emergency as the U.S. counts for more infections from the virus than any other ...

And it will allow us to get more data from jurisdictions so we can effectively track and attack this outbreak." We have not had any deaths outside of Africa. Also, there is a safe, effective vaccine for this that is being rolled out by the federal government. "And in fact, one of the cases in the U.S. was a lady who was exposed to bed linens. You know, this would go through say a wrestling team like wildfire," Yancey tells PEOPLE. "So everybody needs to be warning their kids. "I am a bit concerned because the kids are about to head back to school. Remember that old story of the U.S. military giving smallpox-infected blankets to Native Americans? This could absolutely be transmitted in that fashion," Yancey says. "Monkeypox is transmitted by skin to skin contact. "So, monkeypox is a sibling of smallpox. Any skin to skin contact is a big risk." Once again, this is not COVID." "That being said, it can be spread by large respiratory droplets," Yancey adds. And that can be any kind of skin to skin contact.

And while monkeypox is not expected to reach pandemic levels, you may want to prepare for a potential outbreak by creating a written infectious disease policy ...

The short answer is yes, given that employers have a duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of recognized hazards. Monkeypox spreads from the start of symptoms until the rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed, with the illness lasting typically two to four weeks. The virus spreads primarily through close personal contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids, respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact, according to the CDC. But it also can be spread by touching items (such as clothing or linens) that previously touched the infectious rash or body fluids, or by a pregnant woman to the fetus through the placenta. Fortunately, according to the CDC, monkeypox is rarely fatal. According to the CDC, monkeypox was first discovered in 1958, with the first human case recorded in 1970. This Insight addresses a few commonly posed questions to aid employers that are wondering: What is monkeypox and what do we do now?

How at risk are kids in the monkeypox outbreak? At least five children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with monkeypox. Could schools become a hot spot for the ...

The CDC cautions families in which a household member has been infected to avoid contact with that person, including their bodily fluids, bedding, towels and clothing. Caregivers should also cover areas of broken skin on the child with bandages when possible and avoid direct contact with the rash. “In children that becomes a real and heartbreaking challenge for us.” Keep in mind, Creech said, that the most likely scenario for children to get monkeypox is through sustained household exposure. Parents do need to keep track of what’s happening with the virus, he added. The kids who are at highest risk for severe disease are those who are under age 8, Creech said. “Monkeypox spreads through close skin-to-skin contact, which, in the case of children, could include holding, cuddling, feeding, as well as through shared towels, bedding, cups and utensils,” Nordlund said. “Data about infections in children are limited and the CDC is working to learn more.” The presence of monkeypox in wastewater suggests that the disease may be more spreading even faster than we think, Hotez said. He suggested that all potentially contaminated bedding, towels and clothing be washed in hot water and put through the dryer. Monkeypox has been spreading quickly in the U.S. and around the world. "Two things are happening at once that, I think, can account for the rise in cases that we’re seeing," CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a recent press briefing.