Researchers from Ruhr-Universität Bochum in Germany have found that the mpox virus could be recovered from stainless steel services for several days—and, when the steel was stored at about 39°F, virons could be recovered for up to 30 days. Researchers studied the viability of the virus when it was stored on sanitized stainless steel plates at several temperatures: 39.2°F, 71.6°F (room temperature), and 98.6°F. For the first 5 days, the virus persisted on all surfaces; after 5 day, the two higher temperature storage points dropped significantly. At 98.6°F, no virus capable of reproducing was detected after 6 to 7 days; at room temperature, the same happened at around 10 to 11 days—suggesting, as the researchers noted, that the virus could persist in a household environment for 15 days or more. At 39.2°F, virons only dropped sharply after 20 days, and persisted for up to 30 days. However, alcohol-based and aldehyde-based disinfectants were found to successfully inactivate the virus on stainless steel surfaces, while a tested hydrogen peroxide–based product did not efficiently inactivate mpox. In concluding their study, which was published by Meister et al in The Journal of Infectious Diseases, the study authors wrote, “Our findings support the current guidelines of the World Health Organization and national health authorities and underscore the need for and timely application of alcohol-based disinfectants as an effective measure for minimizing viral transmission and maximizing viral inactivation during the ongoing mpox virus outbreak.”
May 25, 2023