The True Story: Three Food Outlets Disinfected

On 21 June 2022, Singapore's Ministry of Health announced that a 42-year-old British flight attendant had mpox. Thirteen close contacts were identified and quarantined for 21 days.

He was in Singapore from 15 to 17 June, mostly staying in his hotel room, but visited one massage establishment and three food outlets on 16 June. All four places were cleaned and disinfected.

The Key Lesson: Any Restaurant Can Suddenly Need Urgent Disinfection

Restaurants and food courts in Thailand serve customers from everywhere, including tourists and airline crews. Points to watch are:

• Tables, chairs and menus that change customers every hour
• Cutlery and table condiments handled by everyone
• Table-wiping cloths with one cloth used across the restaurant
• Restaurant toilets shared by customers and staff
• Customer information which may be needed if health officials investigate

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 Restaurants and Food Courts

1. No emergency disinfection provider when notified: likelihood low / impact high / level medium. Mitigation: arrange a fogging service contract in advance with contact numbers. Owner: owner
2. One wiping cloth used across the restaurant: likelihood high / impact medium / level high. Mitigation: colour-coded cloths by zone with disinfectant, changed on rotation. Owner: head waiter
3. Menus and condiments not wiped: likelihood high / impact low / level medium. Mitigation: use QR or laminated wipeable menus. Owner: restaurant manager
4. Toilets not cleaned enough: likelihood high / impact medium / level high. Mitigation: hourly wiping at busy times. Owner: cleaner
5. Restaurant closed for long after notification: likelihood low / impact high / level medium. Mitigation: choose a service where the area can be used again in about 30 minutes. Owner: owner

Ways to Reduce Risk in Restaurants

1. Arrange a fogging provider in advance
2. Wipe tables with disinfectant whenever customers leave
3. Use colour-coded cloths by zone not one cloth for everything
4. Use wipeable menus or QR menus
5. Wipe toilets hourly at busy times
6. Send staff with rashes home to see a doctor
7. Fog the restaurant on a schedule outside opening hours

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: What did Singapore do with places the patient visited? A: Four places, one massage establishment and three food outlets, were cleaned and disinfected. Q: When can a restaurant reopen after fogging? A: The area can usually 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 restaurants 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
• 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 Singapore shows that an ordinary restaurant may need urgent disinfection just because a patient stopped by. Restaurants with a plan ready respond fast and reopen right away. Prevent it with the World Health Disinfection disinfection service for restaurants, food centres and food courts, and Chemgene HLD4H disinfectant for wiping tables, chairs, menus and restaurant toilets.

Call 065-556-6294 | LINE: @whd268