The True Story: One Person, Four Contacts and a New Strain

On 9 January 2025, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) announced a cluster of clade Ib mpox cases, five in total. The source was a foreigner with travel and residence history in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the other four were infected through close contact with that person. All had mild symptoms, such as a skin rash and blisters. Reuters reported that the Ib subclade appears to spread more easily through routine close contact, including sexual contact.

Why Businesses Hosting Foreign Partners Should Pay Attention

Thailand is a regional hub for trade fairs and international business. Exhibition centres in and around Bangkok welcome tens of thousands of attendees from around the world at a single event. Exporters, showrooms and factories also host foreign partners and buyers regularly.

• Exhibition booths involve handshakes, exchanging business cards and close product demonstrations
• Product samples and demo tablets are handled by many visitors
• Business meeting rooms and lounges are used for several meetings in a day
• Showrooms and sample rooms have chairs, sofas and counters used by many customers
• Hall toilets are used by thousands of people a day

How Mpox Spreads

According to the World Health Organization, mpox spreads through close contact with an infected person's skin or sores, prolonged face-to-face contact and contaminated items. Walking around an exhibition is generally low risk, but close contact and shared touch points deserve attention. Mpox is an enveloped virus, which suitable disinfectants can inactivate.

Guidelines for Trade Fair Organisers and Exhibitors

1. Keep registrant data with contact details, in line with personal data protection law
2. Provide alcohol gel points at entrances, booths and demo areas
3. Disinfect product samples, tablets and booth counters on a schedule during the day
4. Clean hall toilets several times a day
5. Fog halls and meeting rooms after each day of the event, especially events with attendees from outbreak areas
6. Have a response plan for when an attendee falls ill, and coordinate with the 1422 hotline in Thailand

For Companies Hosting Foreign Partners

• Lounges and meeting rooms: wipe tables, chairs and equipment after guests leave
• Showrooms: wipe products customers have handled and fog on a schedule
• Guest transport: wipe seats and handrails after use
• If told a guest fell ill after visiting, fog the areas the guest used and inform staff in close contact, following officials' advice

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 Trade Fair and Showroom Businesses Should Have a Disinfection Plan

1. Attendees come from many countries, including outbreak areas
2. One infected person can spread the virus to several close contacts
3. Product samples are handled by many people
4. It protects booth staff and sales staff
5. Foreign partners trust your organisation's standards
6. It reduces the risk of cancelling events or closing showrooms
7. It also prevents respiratory and other infections
8. Fogging after each day does not disturb visitors
9. It uses a disinfectant that will not damage booth materials or products
10. It comes with a tax invoice for organisers and companies

Before and After

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I catch mpox walking around a trade fair? A: The risk from ordinary visiting is low. The main route is close contact, but caring for shared touch points reduces the overall risk of infectious disease. Q: Can a large hall be fogged? A: Yes. ULV foggers cover wide areas quickly, and the hall can be used again 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 organisers get a per-event price? A: Yes. Call 065-556-6294 or LINE @whd268.

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 China shows that one infected person who crossed continents could spread the virus to several close contacts. Businesses that host guests from around the world should keep their cleanliness standards ready at all times. Prevent it with the World Health Disinfection disinfection service for exhibition halls, showrooms and meeting rooms, and Chemgene HLD4H disinfectant for wiping product samples and counters during the day.

Call 065-556-6294 | LINE: @whd268