The first monkeypox case was reported in the US in May and in less than 100 days it has spread rapidly and currently, there are more than 9,500 cases confirmed, according to the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a division of I&I-focused association ISSA.

According to GBAC, the cleaning industry will need to respond as the US has declared monkeypox a public health emergency and several states have gone a step further and declared a state of emergency. This will free up additional funding and resources to fight the disease.

The US CDC has stated “clean and disinfect the areas where people with monkeypox spent time.” The US EPA has published a list of disinfectants for monkeypox called List Q Emerging Viral Pathogens. The US Department of Labor has stated that employers must comply with OSHA’s standards on Bloodborne Pathogens (29 CFR 1910.1030), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (29 CFR 1910.132), Respiratory Protection (29 CFR 1910.134), and other requirements.

“Cleaning for health is extremely important with monkeypox as it is a completely different virus than COVID-19 and is spread by bodily fluids,” said GBAC Executive Director Patricia Olinger. “Transfer can happen from direct contact with an infected person and from any item the infected person has touched or used. Knowing this, a scalable response must be put into place, with more training, education, and understanding of the risks involved.”