Monkeypox has been rampant in Germany for months. Although there is now a vaccination against it, only a few Germans have been protected so far. A study has now examined how high the risk of infection with monkeypox is through contaminated surfaces.
According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), a total of around 3,300 cases of monkeypox have been reported from all 16 federal states.1 According to the RKI, the number of cases reported weekly has declined slightly since the beginning of August 2022. But where is the highest risk of infection actually lurking? That’s what the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wanted to find out. Their study also gives an indication of whether you can become infected with monkeypox in a gym, for example.
Health authorities examine households of infected people
A small study looked at the household of a couple who had contracted monkeypox.2 As reported by the American “Centers for Disease Control and Prevention”, the health department of Salt Lake County (Utah state) reported two cases of monkeypox detected by a PCR test in May 2020. The two affected people lived together in one household and were probably infected on a trip. After about eight days, the infected showed symptoms such as tiredness and body aches.
Initially, the two people isolated themselves at home for a total of 20 days. Only then did the health authorities come by and take samples from surfaces throughout the apartment. In particular, samples were taken from objects that were frequently used by the infected people.
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70 percent of the samples were contaminated with monkeypox
Although the residents have maintained strict hygiene and disinfection at home during their 20-day isolation, most of the samples came out positive. Of the 30 samples taken, 21 were positive. That corresponds to about 70 percent. Even samples of textiles such as fabric furniture and blankets were contaminated – despite the strict hygiene measures.
But there is another positive aspect behind the frightening results: none of the samples examined contained live viruses. This means that monkeypox could still be detected in the household after 20 days, but these viruses were no longer contagious.
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Strong sanitation renders monkeypox dormant
Apparently, the strong hygiene of the infected people in the household ensured that the virus became dormant. “The absence of live virus suggests that virus viability is decreasing over time or through chemical inactivation,” wrote Jack A. Pfeiffer, lead author of the study.
But what exactly do these results mean? How should one behave properly in public spaces? And can monkeypox also be transmitted in a gym? “I don’t think this should lead to increased disinfection of public spaces as we have not seen spread of monkeypox through casual contact,” comments Dr. Eric Cioè-Peña the study to the health portal “Healthline”. Rather, it suggests that this is not a highly contagious virus that is transmitted via surface contact. Nevertheless, it makes sense to pay attention to strict hygiene measures, especially in households with infected people, and to isolate yourself for a sufficiently long time, for around three to four weeks.
Also interesting: STIKO recommends monkeypox vaccination for risk groups
How is monkeypox mainly transmitted?
The study’s researchers emphasize that monkeypox is mainly transmitted through close skin-to-skin contact. The risk of infection is highest in contact with:
- Skin rash,
- Scab,
- lesions,
- body fluids
- and the respiratory secretions of an infected person.
According to the German Aidshilfe, the fluids in the blisters and from the wounds that develop after the blisters burst, as well as the scab that forms over them, are particularly infectious.3 Because of this, items that come into direct contact with the skin can transmit monkeypox. This includes contaminated textiles such as clothing, bed linen, blankets and towels.
For the gym, it means that you should keep your distance from other people and under no circumstances should you come into contact with their bodily fluids such as sweat. Before using a device, it is advisable to clean the device (especially the skin contact surfaces) with a disinfectant. Anyone who takes this into account should have a low risk of contracting monkeypox in the gym.
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