Killgerm keeping you informed: Monkeypox statement
Killgerm confirms the following Killgerm products have passed the European test standard EN 14476 against vaccinia virus, which is a part of the Monkeypox virus family (these tests took place at a testing laboratory in the UK).
This confirms the following products are 99.99% effective against all enveloped viruses when used according to label directions.
An outbreak of monkeypox in the UK has caused concern in both the general public and professionals in recent weeks. The virus continues to spread through community transmission, with over 300 cases confirmed in the UK so far.
According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with monkeypox virus. Monkeypox virus belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae. The Orthopoxvirus genus also includes variola virus (smallpox virus), vaccinia virus, and cowpox virus.
Transmission of monkeypox virus occurs when a person comes into contact with the virus from an animal, human, or material contaminated with the virus.
The virus enters the body through broken skin (even if not visible), the respiratory tract, or the mucous membranes (eyes, nose, or mouth). Animal-to-human transmission may occur by bite or scratch, bush meat preparation, direct contact with bodily fluids or lesion material, or indirect contact with lesion material, such as through contaminated bedding.
Human-to-human transmission is thought to occur primarily through large respiratory droplets. Respiratory droplets generally cannot travel more than a few feet, so prolonged face-to-face contact is required. Other human-to-human methods of transmission include direct contact with bodily fluids or lesion material, and indirect contact with lesion material, such as through contaminated clothing or linens.
Contacts of monkeypox cases at high risk of having caught the infection should self-isolate for 21 days, the latest government guidance says. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) guidance now recommends that people who have had “unprotected direct contact or high-risk environmental contact” should isolate for three weeks.
Monkeypox virus is not readily available for laboratories to test products against, however, the closely related vaccinia virus is used in European testing as a surrogate for all enveloped viruses. As monkeypox is an enveloped virus, any product that has passed an EN 14476 against vaccinia virus can therefore be considered effective against monkeypox virus.
It remains important to reduce the risk of fomite transmission. The risk can be substantially reduced by following agreed cleaning methods based on standard cleaning and disinfection. Government advice is available HERE.
