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Monkeypox: How Will the Cleaning Industry Cope This Time?

Monkeypox Must Be Taken Seriously

Every household, industry and business has been affected by COVID-19. Disease transmission continues to be a hot topic as other outbreaks, such as monkeypox, continue to keep the world on high alert. The need for the cleaning industry to step up and abide by strict procedures is only getting stronger. In the age of disease prevention and control, how are top industrial cleaning service providers measuring up to the pressure? Read on to find out what you should look out for so you can ensure your workplace is prepared, no matter what happens next.

A monkeypox virus outbreak was recorded in early 2022 in countries where the disease does not commonly occur. This red flag made researchers raise their eyebrows and start tracking cases in several countries where the virus’s origin was not clear. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that the threat of monkeypox is low since it is still considered rare. However, since the virus is able to spread to humans there is a need for experts to monitor the spread and identify people who have tested positive.

Monkeypox Common Symptoms and Life Cycle

For humans, the symptoms of monkeypox include fever, fatigue, headache, rash, and swollen lymph nodes. The main identifying symptom of monkeypox is swollen lymph nodes – this does not occur when a person is infected with smallpox. Monkeypox requires at least 7, but up to 21, days for symptoms to show after infection.

Since the virus has mostly been identified in Africa, it is not entirely certain what the life cycle of monkeypox could be in other parts of the world.

Monkeypox Transmission

Monkeypox can spread upon contact with the rash or scabs that the virus creates on the skin, bodily fluids of the infected person, water droplets (face-to face contact like kissing, very close contact etc.), or by touching items that have come into contact with infectious rashes or body fluids. If you are pregnant, the virus can spread to the fetus. In day to-to-day life, the most common way to transmit monkeypox is through respiratory droplets, contaminated clothing, or bed linens. This is a nod to hospital settings which need to enforce vigorous monitoring and changing of patient sheets / clothing. The need to dispose of these items correctly, as a biohazard, is also of top importance for limiting monkeypox and other germ transmission for the sake of health care workers, visitors and patients. 

The monkeypox virus may also spread from infected animals either through ingesting/handling meat of an infected animal or by getting scratched/bitten by one. Prior to the 2022 monkeypox outbreak, most cases of the virus outside Africa were traced back to imported animals or to people who travelled internationally to areas where the virus is known to occur. The novel monkeypox outbreaks have caused concern because they have not been traced back to a clear origin.

The need for limiting transmission applies to monkeypox and all germs and viruses. Some good safety measures that all employees and especially those conducting your total facility cleaning service should keep in mind includes avoiding contact with any materials that could have touched the scab or been in contact with water droplets from the infected person.

What’s Going On in 2022?

Monkeypox has made news headlines since April 2022 when countries in Europe as well as the UK, Australia, US and Canada started reporting cases. With 2022 already more than halfway done, what’s going on with monkeypox at this moment in time? As of mid-June, about 1,300 cases have been documented in about 28 countries worldwide.

So, what’s happening exactly? Well, since the world is still in the midst of a pandemic, measures are largely focused on mitigating COVID-19. In the medical profession, there is concern for the missed opportunities to monitor novel monkeypox case, due to the heavy focus on COVID-19. This was compounded by the fact that people may have opted out of seeking medical help due to the fear of contracting COVID-19 in hospitals. The fact is, the rising number of monkeypox cases does have experts scratching their heads. There is no treatment for monkeypox at the moment, although there is a JYNNEOS vaccine approved for use in the United States.

Where The Cleaning Industry is Needed

In light of monkeypox, the cleaning industry needs to continue to build confidence and reassurance for its clients. High grade cleaning is the norm now and with that a vigorous cleaning schedule that enforces a high health and safety when it comes to disease prevention.

Service provider standards need to ensure a highly-qualified and trained set of technicians that are experienced in industrial decontamination. To be an expert in this field in modern day requires a wide-ranging knowledge that goes far beyond simple ‘cleaning up a mess’ with a machine. Technicians and their employers should be aware of and act in strict accordance to the environmental protection laws in their country while also constantly seeking advice from sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dealing with Monkeypox: What You Should Look For

Dealing with Monkeypox: What You Should Look For

A good cleaning service provider will know how to handle the situation – any situation – from start to finish! TEAM Group has the technical expertise, manpower, and equipment to clean-up/disinfect and decontaminate all sizes and types of facilities and waste. TEAM Group has decades of experience in completing industrial cleaning jobs in countless industries all over the globe. There are various types of decontamination – not just viruses – that TEAM Group has experience with such as heavy metals and chemicals, PCBs and oil, chemical tanks, plating tanks, hazardous waste storage areas, animal waste, biohazards and pathogens. An extensive list, for an extensively sought-after service provider for all your dirty jobs..

In terms of monkeypox and other viruses, a good cleaning service provider will assess the latest news and situation to always put safety first. This means using EPA-registered disinfectants and looking at all possible modes of transmission of infectious germs to safeguard frontline essential employees as well as those in public health. Reviewing best practices and reading the manufacturers label seem like common sense, but this is what goes a long way in ensuring proper use and disinfection occurs. It is only with proper use that the appropriate dwell (or wet) contact time on surfaces can be achieved – which is what’s needed to have consistent sanitization. The good news is that the current disinfectants being used for COVID-19 are also effective for monkeypox as both are envelope viruses. This means that both their structures contain a coat of protein and lipid (fat) membrane and so disinfectants will have similar effects. We just had to throw some good news in there.

There is no doubt that disease transmission continues to be a trending topic that affects us all, no matter where we work or live. The need for cleaning services will continue to be in high demand even after the pandemic completely cools down. In a post-COVID world, industrial cleaning service providers still need to be on high alert and continue providing exceptional services.

Let TEAM Group show you our unbeatable services. Together, we can make workplaces and facilities safer and more secure for all.