Monkeypox virus - Background and Testing

Recently there has been an increase in UK cases - and media reports of - a viral infection called monkeypox (nomenclature is currently under review by the WHO).

Human monkeypox is a zoonotic viral disease (able to spread from animals to humans) caused by the monkeypox virus. The first outbreak outside of Africa was reported in the US in 2003 linked to the importation of infected animals. During a large outbreak in Nigeria in 2018 and 2019, onward travellers to a number of different countries went on to be diagnosed with monkeypox. These were the first cases for this virus of travel associated transmission outside of an outbreak setting. There is an ongoing multi-country outbreak of monkeypox in several regions of the world. The WHO currently assess this outbreak as a moderate risk on a global level, since this is the first time that many monkeypox cases are being reported concurrently in widely disparate geographical areas.

Person-to-person transmission of the monkeypox virus is through close contact with lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials such as bedding or clothing. A number of measures can be taken to prevent infection, such as practicing good hand hygiene, avoiding contact with any materials that have been in contact with an infected person and isolating infected patients from others at risk of infection.

The monkeypox virus is an enveloped virus from the orthopoxvirus genus within the poxviridae family. Other viruses from the orthopoxvirus genus include variola virus, which causes smallpox, and vaccinia virus. Vaccinia virus is already used in standard test methods such as EN 14476 and EN 16777 to evaluate virucidal activity of disinfectants against enveloped viruses. As monkeypox virus is an enveloped virus, antiviral efficacy can be demonstrated by testing against vaccinia virus as an accepted surrogate. 

Virologica would be delighted to help you evaluate the performance of your product, disinfectant, surface or device against monkeypox virus. Just get in touch on 01925 974397 or email us at info@virologica.co.uk for more information.

Sources: 
Multi-country monkeypox outbreak: situation update (who.int)
Prevention | Monkeypox | Poxvirus | CDC
Monkeypox (who.int)