WHO declares mpox Public Health Emergency; Betco offers disinfectant solutions amid outbreak spread to non-endemic countries

September 13, 2024 (press release) –

The World Health Organization (WHO) has again declared mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, a Public Health Emergency of International Concern due to the upsurge of cases across both endemic and non-endemic countries.

Endemic countries have previously had mpox outbreaks reported, including West African countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Cameroon. These countries are affected by 2 variants of mpox: Clade I and Clade II. Clade I is the more severe variant, prompting the public health emergency designation. Clade II has milder symptoms yet is still endemic to West Africa.

While the viral outbreak has mainly affected Africa, Clade II continues to spread to non-endemic countries that have not historically reported cases of mpox. Sweden and Canada, for example, have reported cases, with Sweden confirming one on August 15 linked to travel to Africa, according to the WHO. Canada has confirmed cases only of the Clade II variant. There are no known cases in the US currently.

Mpox Transmission

Mpox is transmitted through contaminated objects like linens or needles, close physical contact and/or respiratory circulation near someone with mpox, or through infected animals. mpox mainly spreads through direct contact with a person who has contracted the virus.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends cleaning and disinfecting in the following order to minimize spreading the virus.

1. Collect and throw away general waste, such as bandages, paper towels, food packaging, and other general trash items
2. Laundry
3. Hard surfaces
4. Soft Surfaces
5. Carpet and flooring
6. Throw away waste generated from cleaning and disinfecting (such as disinfectant wipes)
7. Wash your hands

Mpox Disinfectants

10 Betco disinfectant products are recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency for use against mpox and can be found on their List Q Disinfectants for Emerging Viral Pathogens:

• Quat-Stat^™ 5
• Triforce
• AF79 Concentrate
• pH7Q
• Symplicity^™ Sanibet^™ Multi-Range Sanitizer*
• Pine Quat
• Fight Bac^™ RTU
• GE Fight Bac RTU
• pH7Q Dual
• Cide-Bet II

These disinfectants have demonstrated effectiveness against viruses similar to mpox on hard, non-porous surfaces. Therefore, they can be used against the mpox virus when used per the directions on the product label.

A Note on Bleach (Sodium Hypochlorite)

It is a common belief that bleach is the ultimate disinfectant. This is one of many disinfecting myths, for reasons that include:

• Bleach must be applied to a pre-cleaned surface for it to function properly as a disinfectant or sanitizer.
• Disinfecting and sanitizing with bleach is a two-step process.
• Bleach has an unstable shelf life that depends on its age and storage conditions.
• The amount of active chlorine in bleach varies by product.
• Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) breaks down into salt and water, so bleach should never be stored in warm areas.
• A fresh bleach solution should be prepared before disinfection or sanitization.
• Water hardness and soil contaminants from a dirty container can negatively impact the available chlorine ppm levels.

For more information about mpox, reference the CDC website or get in touch with a Betco^® representative.

*Disinfectant dilution only (3.5 oz/5-gal water)

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