The True Story: A Football Game with Friends, the Day After Coming Home

A 22-year-old man from Thrissur district in Kerala, India, boarded a flight from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 21 July 2022 and reached Karipur airport on 22 July. The next day he played football with friends. On 27 July he collapsed and was taken to a clinic before being moved to hospital, and he died on 30 July. That same day his relatives were told that samples taken in the UAE had tested positive. The National Institute of Virology in Pune later confirmed mpox, making him India's first mpox death. Officials identified 20 high-risk contacts, including family members, a house help, four friends who met him at the airport and nine people from the football game.

Why Sports Grounds Are Involved

Contact sports such as football, basketball, rugby, boxing and martial arts involve skin-to-skin contact throughout the game. Afterwards, players share changing rooms, showers and benches.

• Tackles and falls bring skin into direct contact
• Bibs, towels and water bottles are often shared in amateur teams
• Changing rooms and showers are humid and used by many people
• Training mats in martial arts gyms touch the skin of many players a day

Rented football pitches, futsal courts, Muay Thai gyms and sports clubs in Thailand have a wide range of users, including people just back from abroad.

How Mpox Spreads

According to the World Health Organization, mpox spreads through close contact, such as touching an infected person's skin or sores, and through contaminated items such as towels and clothing. Playing sport does not mean infection will always happen, but close contact and shared items increase the chance. Mpox is an enveloped virus, which suitable disinfectants can inactivate.

What Sports Grounds and Clubs Often Overlook

1. No advice for people with fever or a rash to sit out, even though it is a simple rule
2. Towels and bibs shared without washing between users
3. Changing rooms cleaned only on the floor, without disinfecting benches, lockers and taps
4. Training mats only dusted, not disinfected after classes
5. No player list, making contact tracing difficult

Prevention Guidelines for Sports Grounds, Gyms and Clubs

1. Put up signs advising anyone with fever, a rash or blisters to sit out and see a doctor
2. No shared towels, and wash bibs after every use
3. Disinfect training mats after every class and wipe changing room benches daily
4. Clean and disinfect showers, especially taps, handles and shower heads
5. Keep lists of players and bookings, in line with personal data protection law
6. Fog changing rooms and gyms fully on a schedule, and immediately when there is a confirmed case
7. Coordinate with public health officials, and call 1422 in Thailand when someone has suspected symptoms

How ULV Fogging Helps

The World Health Disinfection disinfection service uses ULV fogging machines that turn the disinfectant into a fine mist. It settles across the whole area, including corners, curtains, upholstery and surfaces that hand wiping cannot fully reach.

• Whole-area coverage without relying on wiping spot by spot
• Quick return to use, typically about 30 minutes after fogging
• The team wears full protective equipment, so owners and staff do not take the risk themselves
• Report and photos after the job to show customers, management or authorities
• Tax invoice with 3% withholding tax for companies and agencies
• More than 5 years of experience in hospitals, offices, hotels and public buildings

The Disinfectant We Use: Chemgene HLD4H

The team uses Chemgene HLD4H. According to WHD's product page, it meets the EN 14476 standard for virucidal activity, is used in NHS hospitals in England, and is endorsed by Mahidol University. We do not claim that Chemgene has been tested against mpox specifically. But mpox is an enveloped virus, which suitable disinfectants can inactivate when used at the manufacturer's stated concentration and contact time.

• No harsh bleach smell
• Works on many surfaces, from desks and counters to handles and equipment
• Can be bought for daily wiping of high-touch points

10 Reasons Sports Grounds and Clubs Should Have a Disinfection Plan

1. Contact sports involve skin contact throughout the game
2. Changing rooms and showers are used by many people
3. Training mats touch the skin of many people a day
4. It protects players, coaches and staff
5. It reduces the risk of a team having to stop training or matches
6. Members feel confident and renew their memberships
7. It also prevents other skin infections common in gyms
8. It uses a standards-tested disinfectant with no harsh smell
9. It provides reports confirming cleanliness
10. It comes with a tax invoice for clubs and companies

Before and After

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: If I play sport with someone who has mpox, will I definitely catch it? A: Not definitely, but close skin contact increases the risk. Contacts should watch for symptoms for 21 days and follow officials' advice. Q: When can a changing room be used after fogging? A: Typically about 30 minutes after fogging. Q: Does Chemgene HLD4H kill mpox? A: It is not claimed to be tested against mpox specifically, but it meets EN 14476 for viruses, and mpox is an enveloped virus. Q: Can it be used on training mats? A: Yes, at the manufacturer's stated concentration and contact time.

Related Links and Sources

• World Health Disinfection disinfection service
• Chemgene HLD4H disinfectant and price
• Mpox information from Thailand's Department of Disease Control, hotline 1422
• WHO mpox fact sheet

Prevent It with a Disinfection Service and Chemgene HLD4H

The true story from India shows that a single football game produced nine high-risk contacts. Sports grounds and clubs that look after changing rooms, showers and equipment correctly can protect every player. Prevent it with the World Health Disinfection disinfection service for changing rooms and gyms, and Chemgene HLD4H disinfectant for wiping training mats and benches every day.

Call 065-556-6294 | LINE: @whd268