The True Story: When Handwashing and Laundry Become Hard

On 5 September 2024, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) published an article by its general director after a visit to North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, where hundreds of thousands of people fleeing conflict live in displacement camps around Goma. The article says families live in small shelters with little water, poor sanitation and no soap, and the camps are overcrowded, so prevention such as isolation, handwashing and laundry is very hard to carry out. MSF argued that vaccines alone are not enough and called for water, soap, disinfectant and basic sanitation. From January to 2 September 2024, Congo reported more than 20,000 suspected and confirmed cases and over 630 deaths.

The Key Lesson: Shelters Need Water, Soap and Disinfectant First

Thailand often sets up temporary evacuation shelters during floods, landslides or fires. These places have similar risk points:

• Shelters in schools, temples and private buildings
• Temporary tents where families live close together
• Mobile toilets and shared bathing points in limited numbers
• Donated bedding and blankets handed out in rotation
• Officials and volunteers caring for large numbers of evacuees

How Mpox Spreads

According to the World Health Organization, mpox spreads mainly through close contact with an infected person's skin or sores, and can also spread through contaminated objects such as clothing, bedding and towels. Mpox is an enveloped virus, which suitable disinfectants can inactivate.

Risk Register for Disaster Evacuation Shelters

1. Not enough water and soap for handwashing: likelihood high / impact high / level critical. Mitigation: stock clean water, soap and hand gel in the contingency plan. Owner: shelter manager
2. No area to separate people who are ill: likelihood medium / impact high / level high. Mitigation: designate a patient isolation zone when the shelter is set up. Owner: public health team
3. Too few shared toilets, not cleaned: likelihood high / impact high / level critical. Mitigation: cleaning and disinfection rotas several times a day. Owner: sanitation team
4. Donated bedding reused without washing: likelihood medium / impact medium / level medium. Mitigation: issue bedding to each family and wash before passing it on. Owner: donations team
5. The building not disinfected before being returned to the school or temple: likelihood medium / impact high / level high. Mitigation: clean and fog before handing the building back. Owner: local administrative organisation

Ways to Reduce Risk in Evacuation Shelters

1. Include water, soap, hand gel and disinfectant in the shelter's list of essentials
2. Designate a patient isolation zone as soon as the shelter opens
3. Screen for rashes and fever when receiving evacuees
4. Issue bedding to each family
5. Clean shared toilets several times a day
6. Fog the building before returning it to the school, temple or owner
7. Coordinate with the 1422 hotline and the provincial public health office

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

Before and After

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why must shelters think about infectious disease? A: Because people live closely together with limited sanitation. MSF pointed out that in the camps around Goma, isolation and handwashing were very hard. Q: Are vaccines enough? A: MSF argued that vaccines alone are not enough, and water, soap, disinfectant and basic sanitation are also needed. 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 local administrative organisations or foundations hire fogging for shelters? 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 Goma shows that water, soap and disinfectant are basic necessities. Shelters prepared in advance protect evacuees better. Prevent it with the World Health Disinfection disinfection service for evacuation shelters and buildings before they are handed back, and Chemgene HLD4H disinfectant to stock in emergency preparedness kits.

Call 065-556-6294 | LINE: @whd268