You may have heard or read about an emerging viral pathogen called monkeypox (also known as orthopoxvirus). Though not new to the tropical rainforest areas of central and west Africa, this virus is somewhat new to the United States… or at least it was until May 2022.
Recent Outbreak in the U.S.
In May 2022, multiple cases of monkeypox were reported in the U.S., despite it still being extremely rare to contract it in the states. As of the end of August 2022, nearly 17,000 cases of monkeypox have been identified in the United States. But with more than 332 million Americans, it still only translates to roughly .005% of the population. The main concern right now is continued transmission, as case numbers appear to be rising too quickly for comfort.
Studies are currently being done to identify how monkeypox arrived in the states and how it could be transmitted moving forward. In the meantime, there’s a lot you can do to take action against the virus today, including learning about symptoms and products that may help you protect what matters most.
Symptoms: Spots & Other Signs
Monkeypox is primarily spread through prolonged physical contact with a contaminated person, animal, or surface. Symptoms typically present as flu-like:
- Fever
- Chills
- Headaches
Other symptoms may include:
- Exhaustion
- Muscle aches or back aches
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Respiratory issues (e.g. sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough)
After 1-3 days of flu-like symptoms, a painful or itchy rash may develop. The rash typically presents in one or several areas of the body, including the face, mouth, hands, feet, chest, or genitals, and progresses from flat spots into bumps that resemble skin blemishes or blisters.
Monkeypox Prevention: What You Can Do
Unfortunately, there’s currently no product on the market that has been tested against monkeypox. However, you can do your part in preventing the spread of the virus by choosing products from the EPA’s List of Disinfectants for Emerging Viral Pathogens.
These products demonstrate efficacy against harder-to-kill emerging viral pathogens, which have newly appeared in a population or have existed but are rapidly increasing in incidence or geographic range. We offer select MAXIM® products recognized on this list, which have shown to be effective against monkeypox and other similar viruses when used as directed on the labels.
Refer to the below list for MAXIM products and corresponding directions for use against similar emerging viral pathogens:
We’re Here to Help
At Midlab, we’re here to help our customers protect what matters most with essential cleaning and disinfection products, including our exclusive MAXIM product line. For your convenience, all information in this article was sourced from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO).
For the most up-to-date information on monkeypox, please refer to the CDC or WHO websites. If you suspect you or someone you’ve been in close contact with has monkeypox, please see a licensed healthcare professional for testing and treatment options.
To become a distributor of MAXIM cleaning and disinfection products that can help prevent the spread of monkeypox and other emerging viral pathogens, visit us at whymaxim.com.
