The True Story: Two Flights and Masks on Everyone

On 15 July 2021, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed mpox in a US resident who had recently returned from Nigeria. The patient flew from Lagos to Atlanta on 8 to 9 July and connected from Atlanta to Dallas on 9 July, before being treated in hospital in Dallas. CDC worked with the airline and health agencies to contact passengers and others who may have had close contact. Importantly, this was during COVID-19, and passengers had to wear masks on the planes and in airports. CDC therefore judged the risk of spread through respiratory droplets to others on the planes and in airports to be low.

The Key Lesson: Simple Measures Really Reduce Risk

This case shows that basic measures such as masks greatly reduce worry about travelling with a patient. Public transport in Thai cities, such as the BTS and MRT, city buses, vans and passenger boats, carries millions of passengers a day. The things passengers touch most are:

• Handrails and grab poles gripped by thousands of hands a day
• Fabric seats on buses and vans
• Platform gates, ticket machine buttons and escalator handrails
• Station toilets used by large numbers of people
• Rush hours when passengers stand close together

How Mpox Spreads

According to the World Health Organization, mpox spreads mainly through close contact with an infected person's skin or sores and prolonged face-to-face contact. Ordinary public transport travel is low risk, but caring for shared touch points reduces the risk of many infectious diseases at once. Mpox is an enveloped virus, which suitable disinfectants can inactivate.

Guidelines for Public Transport Operators

1. Disinfect handrails, grab poles and buttons on a schedule during the day
2. Fog vehicles and carriages after each day of service or on a schedule
3. Clean station toilets several times a day
4. Install alcohol gel points at station entrances and ticket counters
5. Encourage people who are unwell to wear masks and cover sores or rashes when travelling
6. Train staff on what to do when a passenger is unwell, and coordinate with the 1422 hotline
7. When told a patient has used the service, fog the vehicles and areas involved

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 Public Transport Should Have a Disinfection Plan

1. Millions of passengers use it every day
2. Handrails and seats are touched constantly
3. It protects drivers and station staff
4. Passengers trust the cleanliness
5. It also prevents flu, COVID-19 and other diseases
6. Fogging can be done outside service hours
7. It uses a disinfectant that will not damage fabric seats or metal
8. No harsh smell lingers in the vehicle
9. It provides reports for regulators
10. It comes with a tax invoice for operators

Before and After

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I catch mpox sitting near a patient on a train? A: The risk from ordinary travel is low. The main route is close contact. CDC judged the risk on flights where everyone wore masks to be low. Q: When can a vehicle 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 operators with many vans get a package 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 the US shows that simple measures, done consistently, really reduce the risk of travel. Public transport that cares for touch points and vehicles systematically lets passengers travel with confidence. Prevent it with the World Health Disinfection disinfection service for vehicles and stations, and Chemgene HLD4H disinfectant for wiping handrails and high-touch points during the day.

Call 065-556-6294 | LINE: @whd268