There have been reported cases of monkeypox (or mpox) in the UK since 2022, and recently the first case of a new strain known as Clade 1B has occurred in London.
We’re here to take you through everything you need to know about mpox and this new strain so that you can stay up to date on vital information. We will also provide advice and recommendations on the best commercial cleaning services to help you decontaminate the workplace and keep your staff and clients healthy.
What is Mpox?
Mpox is a rare and infectious virus most commonly found in central and eastern Africa. It is an example of a zoonotic virus, meaning that it can be transferred from animals to humans similar to other diseases like Ebola, West Nile virus and cowpox.
The mpox virus was first discovered in 1958, in a colony of monkeys, hence the name. The first known human case of the virus was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
It spreads most commonly through close contact, including intimate and sexual contact. In addition to becoming infected via contact with animals, you can also catch mpox via contaminated items such as towels, doorknobs, light switches and other high-touch areas.
What are the Symptoms of Mpox?
There are a number of symptoms that you can develop which will indicate you have been exposed to and infected by the mpox virus. Symptoms can take a number of days to appear after the virus has been transmitted.
- Skin rashes
- Blisters, spots and ulcers
- Fever
- Headaches
- Swollen glands
- Shivering
- Muscle and joint pain
- Backaches
The blisters and rashes are the clearest physical sign that differentiates mpox from other viruses and will appear first on the face before spreading to other parts of the body, such as the hands and genitals.
What are the Different Strains of Mpox?
Mpox has had a couple of different strains before the emergence of Clade 1B. Clade I is characterised chiefly by the rashes, fever and headaches detailed in the symptoms above and is often more severe than the Clade II strain.
Clade II is also notable for having a lower transmission rate between humans than Clade I. Clade I’s mortality rate is also far higher than Clade II’s, with the latter having a mortality rate of less than 1% in parts of Africa.
What is the Mpox Clade 1B Strain?
Clade 1B, a variant of the Clade I strain, is believed to cause milder symptoms than the original Clade I strain but its transmission rate and capabilities are heightened, particularly among juveniles.
Like other strains of mpox, Clade 1B has no direct or specific treatment, but strong immune systems and appropriate medication and pain control can aid in the recovery of the afflicted patient
Clade 1B also appears more regularly in denser populated areas than Clade 1A which is more commonly found in rural areas, heightening the risk of the infection spreading.
The First Case of Mpox Clade 1B in the UK
The first case of mpox Cade 1B in the Uk occurred in London. It was confirmed by the UKHSA on Tuesday 29th October. The patient arrived home from a holiday to Africa on the 21 October and started experiencing symptoms a few days later before checking in for help at a hospital a few days after that.
Medical experts at the UKHSA have traced fewer than 10 people the man has been in contact with since returning from his trip and before attending A&E. Medical officials and advisers are reassuring the public that the health risk the Clade 1B poses to the UK is low.
Still, we believe it’s important to stay on top of your decontamination and disinfection protocols so that you can remain safe at your place of work and ensure the health of your employees and visitors.
Identifying the Mpox Virus in the Workplace
The first step to preventing the spread of mpox in your workplace is to learn and become familiar with the identifying signs. This will help us to be efficient and responsive in an emergency, arriving before the mpox outbreak becomes too widespread.
The first steps you can take to identify signs is to stay up to date and present on health situations and encourage any employees who feel under the weather to take sick leave so as not to risk potentially exposing others to the virus.
Some of the first signs of the mpox virus will be fever, exhaustion, malaise and headaches, common flu-like symptoms that can make it hard to judge what illness the employee has, making strict sick leave protocols more paramount than ever.
It’s important to take early precautionary steps, and testing is essential for early care and prevention practices to keep your workplace healthy.
People afflicted with monkeypox will be infectious from the moment symptoms first start to appear to the moment the blister and rash scabs have fallen off and the skin beneath remains intact.
What Industries Are the Most at Risk from the New Mpox Strain?
The mpox virus can appear in any sector depending on a range of factors such as where an employee might have gone on holiday, and other people clients or employees might have come into contact with.
Healthcare facilities such as hospitals, dental practices, vets, and medical clinics are at the highest risk due to the constant exposure to animals and other ill patients, allowing the mpox virus to spread more quickly.
Commercial Cleaning for a Mpox Outbreak
In the event that there is an outbreak of mpox – Clade 1B or otherwise – at your place of work, we have a number of commercial cleaning services available to get you decontaminated in no time and restore your business to its original healthy glory.
Deep Cleaning for a Mpox Outbreak
One of our primary cleaning services that helps to thoroughly decontaminate your workplace is our deep cleaning service that works to thoroughly eliminate germs and bacteria on a deeper level.
As with our regular cleaning services, special care will be taken to attend to high touch areas of the office such as taps, stairway rails, door handles and light switches, reducing the risk of mpox being spread through contact with contaminated surfaces.
Another element of our deep clean decontamination is our fogging service. In the event of an outbreak occurring, our cleaning specialists will arrive to evacuate your premises and carry out a thorough deep clean and fogging.
The fogging process will involve spraying a fine disinfectant mist that will settle on all your surfaces for an even coverage and eliminate the mpox safely and remotely.
Janitorial Supplies for Mpox Virus Cleaning
To help you maintain the cleanliness of your office on a regular basis in between our visits, we can offer you a janitorial supplies service. This service will enable us to keep you stocked on a wide range of cleaning supplies and personal sanitary products as anti-bacterial wipes and hand sanitiser.
This will help your employees to maintain their personal health and hygiene, protecting both themselves and others from spreading the virus through close contact.
This will also enable you to more easily wipe down and sanitise surfaces such as desks, chairs and telephones in between client visits so that the next customer is protected from any potential germs, bolstering the overall health of your office and protecting you from more than just the mpox strains.
Biohazard Cleaning for Mpox
Due to the risk of infection from infected animals and contaminated surfaces, biohazard cleaning may also be a helpful commercial cleaning service, focusing on keeping you safe from biohazardous materials.
Mpox can be spread through bodily fluids such as salvia, snot and mucus as well as close physical contact. In the event of an outbreak, we can use our professional biohazard cleaning services to clean up any fluids on your premises safely, lessening the risk of exposure.
Monkeypox Decontamination Cleaning Service
We also have our own special, customised mpox cleaning service, specifically designed to combat monkeypox and prevent it from spreading through your business.
Along with our targeted fogging solutions, we also provide a Total Defence Cleaning Pack to those who request our emergency fogging services to help you boost your virus defences while we are not there to carry out services.
This includes:
- A monkeypox virucidal trigger spray
- 70% alcohol hand gel pump
- 70% alcohol pocket size hand gel
- 100 quality alcohol clinical wipes for all surfaces
- Microfibre cleaning cloths
We offer our monkeypox decontamination to both commercial businesses and homes, ensuring that everyone can stay protected no matter where they are.
If you suspect your workplace has been exposed to an mpox outbreak, whether that be Clade 1B, I or II, get in touch as soon as possible and we will respond as swiftly as possible, making full use of our emergency services to help you decontaminate your business.
In addition to our specialised decontamination protocols, we can also help you to put in place a regular commercial cleaning schedule so that we can assist you in maintaining a high level of cleanliness at all times and making it less likely for the mpox virus to take hold.
