(Taiwan English News / Zhu Mingzhu Comprehensive Foreign News Report) According toCDCThe latest research shows that monkeypox virus can remain on surfaces for at least 20 days, but it is unclear whether it can be infected through contaminated items.
According to a study released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on August 19, two people living under the same roof in Salt Lake County were diagnosed with mild monkeypox in May, with symptoms ranging from day 22 to day 30. Disappeared left and right; one had skin lesions on the genitals, lips, scalp, and chest, and the other had skin lesions concentrated on the lower extremities, from the toes to the legs.
The patient reported that he paid a lot of attention to personal hygiene habits during the onset, including frequent hand washing, frequent bathing, weekly cleaning of sheets and clothes, mopping the floor, and regularly spraying and wiping household items with detergent.
However, when the two patients still had related symptoms following 20 days of isolation at home, the health center decided to conduct environmental inspections on 30 high-contact items in the patients’ homes. It was found that 70% of the samples had the virus detected, including carpets, sofas, doorknobs and Light switches, etc., but no live virus particles were detected on any items or surfaces, indicating a very low risk of transmission, presumably related to the frequent cleaning and disinfection of patients.
According to the CDC, most patients are infected following skin-to-skin contact with the patient, including kissing, hugging, sexual activity, or contact with the patient’s respiratory secretions, damaged skin or mucous membranes. More than 90% of patients in the United States have had sex with men, but in fact, people of all ages, genders and sexual orientations may be infected.
The CDC reminds that if you visit the home of a person diagnosed with monkeypox, you should still take personal protection, such as wearing a mask, avoiding contact with items that may be contaminated with the virus, maintaining hand hygiene, and avoiding sharing tableware, clothes, bedding or towels. Also follow home disinfection recommendations.