Monkeypox virus can stay on couches, blankets, computer mouse and other common household items, finds Study

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New
Delhi,
Aug
20:
A
new
study
on
monkeypox
by
the
US
disease
control
body
CDC
now
suggests
that
the
virus
can
remain
on
several
household
items
including
couches,
blankets,
coffee
machine,
computer
mouse
and
others
despite
regular
disinfecting.

According
to
a
recent
study
by
Centers
for
Disease
Control
and
Prevention(CDC),
the
patients
regularly
disinfected
surfaces,
washed
their
hands
several
times
a
day
and
showered
more
frequently.

Two
monkeypox
patients
claimed
they
had
disinfected
surfaces
and
washed
their
hands
several
times
but
researches
found
the
virus
on
“70
per
cent
of
high-contact
areas
20
days
after
their
symptoms
began
on
couches,
blankets,
a
coffee
machine,
computer
mouse
and
light
switch”,
CDC
said
as
per
a
report
by
Bloomberg.

ICMR
plans
for
sero-survey
among
contacts
of
monkeypox
patients

However,
“no
live
virus”
was
found
on
any
of
the
items
or
surfaces,
the
CDC
said.
The
CDC
said
that
cleaning
and
disinfection
practices
may
have
limited
the
amount
of
contamination
in
the
home,
Bloomberg
reported.

The
virus
can
also
spread
through
fluids
or
objects
used
by
an
infected
person,
but
it’s
not
yet
clear
how
much
some
surface
contamination
contributes
to
indirect
transmission
of
the
virus,
according
to
the
study.

According
to
the
WHO,
monkeypox
is
a
viral
zoonosis
–
a
virus
transmitted
to
humans
from
animals
–
with
symptoms
similar
to
smallpox
although
clinically
less
severe.

Monkeypox
typically
manifests
itself
with
fever,
rash
and
swollen
lymph
nodes
and
may
lead
to
a
range
of
medical
complications.
It
is
usually
a
self-limited
disease
with
symptoms
lasting
for
two
to
four
weeks.

Monkeypox
cases
jumped
20%
in
the
last
week
to
35,000
across
92
countries:
WHO

The
symptoms
include
lesions
which
usually
begin
within
one
to
three
days
from
the
onset
of
fever,
lasting
for
around
two
to
four
weeks
and
are
often
described
as
painful
until
the
healing
phase
when
they
become
itchy.
A
notable
predilection
for
palm
and
soles
is
characteristic
of
monkeypox.