How to Protect Yourself:

​

Take the following steps to prevent getting monkeypox:

​

• Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like monkeypox.

  • Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with monkeypox.

  • Do not be intimate with someone who has monkeypox.

• Avoid contact with objects and materials that a person with monkeypox has used.

  • Do not share eating utensils or cups with a person with monkeypox.

  • Do not handle or touch the bedding, towels, or clothing of a person with monkeypox.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially before eating or touching your face and after you use the bathroom.

 

People more likely to get monkeypox include:

• People who have been identified by public health officials as a contact of someone with monkeypox.

• People whose jobs may expose them to orthopoxviruses, such as:

  • Laboratory workers who perform testing for orthopoxviruses

  • Laboratory workers who handle cultures or animals with orthopoxviruses

  • Some designated healthcare or public health workers

​

Purpose of Home Disinfection

People with monkeypox who do not require hospitalization may be isolated at home. 

During the infectious period of time, body fluids, respiratory secretions, and lesion material from people with monkeypox can contaminate the environment. Poxviruses can survive in linens, clothing and on environmental surfaces, particularly when in dark, cool, and low humidity environments.

​

Cleaning and Disinfection

During isolation at home, people with monkeypox should clean and disinfect the spaces they occupy regularly to limit household contamination.

​

• ISOLATING ALONE IN HOME: People with monkeypox who are isolating alone at home should regularly clean and disinfect the spaces they occupy, including commonly touched surfaces and items, to limit household contamination. Perform hand hygiene afterwards using an alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) that contains at least 60% alcohol, or soap and water if ABHR is unavailable.

• ISOLATING WITH OTHERS IN HOME: People with monkeypox who are isolating in a home with others who don’t have monkeypox should follow the isolation and infection control guidance, and any shared spaces, appliances, or items should be disinfected immediately following use.

​​

People who have recovered from monkeypox and whose isolation period has ended should conduct a thorough disinfection of all the spaces within the home that they had been in contact with. Follow the steps below to minimize risk of infection to others in your home after recovery.

​

• If cleaning and disinfection is done by someone other than the person with monkeypox, that person should wear, at a minimum, disposable medical gloves and a respirator or well-fitting mask.

• Standard clothing that fully covers the skin should be worn, and then immediately laundered according to recommendations below.

• Hand hygiene should be performed using an ABHR, or soap and water if ABHR is unavailable.

• Focus on disinfecting items and surfaces that were in direct contact with the skin of the person with monkeypox, or often in the presence of the person with monkeypox, during isolation. If unsure, disinfect.

• Do not dry dust or sweep as this may spread infectious particles.

  • Wet cleaning methods are preferred such as disinfectant wipes, sprays, and mopping.

  • Vacuuming is acceptable using a vacuum with a high-efficiency air filter. If not available, ensure the person vacuuming wears a well-fitting mask or respirator.

​

• Clean and disinfect household in the following order:

  1. General waste containment: Collect and contain in a sealed bag any soiled waste such as bandages, paper towels, food packaging, and other general trash items

  2. Laundry: Gather contaminated clothing and linens before anything else in the room is cleaned. Do not shake the linens as this could spread infectious particles.

  3. Hard surfaces and household items

  4. Upholstered furniture and other soft furnishing

  5. Carpet and flooring

  6. Waste disposal

​​

Waste Disposal

• Generally, management of waste from homes, including those of people with monkeypox isolating at home, should continue as normal. Municipal waste management systems routinely collect and dispose of waste materials from individuals with infectious diseases and can do so safely using existing procedures.

• The person with monkeypox should use a dedicated, lined trash can in the room where they are isolating.

• Any gloves, bandages, or other waste and disposable items that have been in direct contact with skin should be placed in a sealed plastic bag, then thrown away in the dedicated trash can.

• The person with monkeypox or other household members should use gloves when removing garbage bags and handling and disposing of trash.