The True Story: A Mining Town Where People Are Always on the Move

Kamituga is a gold-mining town in South Kivu province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, with a population of about 242,000. Research on medRxiv reported the first cases from October 2023, with 241 suspected cases and 108 confirmed. Researchers found a new lineage of clade I, later named clade Ib, and noted the town has high mobility of people to Bukavu, Rwanda and Burundi, one of the factors that helped the virus spread further.

The Key Lesson: Worker Camps with Rotating People Are Risk Points

Mining, construction and large project camps in Thailand house many workers together who rotate in and out. Points to care for are:

• Dormitories and shared sleeping areas used by many workers
• Shared toilets and shower blocks used all day
• Workers travelling between the camp and home or other towns
• Equipment and work clothes handed over between shifts
• The camp sick bay, which must handle symptomatic workers

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 Mining and Construction Worker Camps

1. Workers with a rash or fever still sleeping in shared rooms: likelihood medium / impact high / level high. Mitigation: make reporting symptoms easy and keep a spare isolation room. Owner: camp manager
2. Shared toilets and sleeping areas not cleaned systematically: likelihood high / impact high / level critical. Mitigation: clean on rounds and wipe touch points with disinfectant. Owner: camp sanitation team
3. New workers not screened: likelihood medium / impact high / level high. Mitigation: ask about symptoms and travel history before check-in. Owner: project HR
4. Work clothes and equipment shared without cleaning: likelihood medium / impact medium / level medium. Mitigation: individual clothing and wipe equipment at shift handover. Owner: supervisor
5. No referral or disinfection plan when a case is found: likelihood low / impact high / level medium. Mitigation: set referral steps, call 1422 and fog in an emergency. Owner: project manager

Ways to Reduce Risk in Worker Camps

1. Screen new workers for symptoms and travel history
2. Keep a spare isolation room for symptomatic workers
3. Clean shared toilets and sleeping areas on rounds
4. Give each worker their own work clothes and bedding
5. Educate workers about symptoms and the 1422 hotline in a language they understand
6. Fog the camp on a schedule and when a case is found
7. Communicate without stigma so workers feel safe reporting symptoms

How ULV Fogging Helps

The [World Health Disinfection disinfection service]({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]({PRODUCT}). 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 does Kamituga matter to the outbreak? A: It is the mining town where the new clade Ib lineage was found, with high mobility to nearby towns and countries. Q: How often should worker camps be fogged? A: Set a schedule based on headcount and rotation, and fog immediately when a case or suspected case is found. 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 construction companies get a tax invoice? A: Yes. Tax invoices are issued and 3% withholding tax is supported. Call 065-556-6294 or LINE @whd268.

Related Links and Sources

• [World Health Disinfection disinfection service]({SERVICE})
• [Chemgene HLD4H disinfectant and price]({PRODUCT})
• 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 Kamituga shows that places where people live together and rotate often are where infection spreads easily. Camps that assess risk and clean systematically protect both workers and the project. Prevent it with the [World Health Disinfection disinfection service]({SERVICE}) for worker camps, dormitories and shared toilets, and [Chemgene HLD4H disinfectant]({PRODUCT}) for wiping touch points and shared equipment.

Call 065-556-6294 | LINE: @whd268