Mpox Virus Can Survive on Stainless Steel Surface, Infect People for up to 30 Days [Study]

Mpox virus, formerly called the monkeypox virus, can survive on stainless steel surfaces and reproduce for at least several days and infect some people for up to 30 days, according to a new study led by scientists in Germany.

The findings mean the pathogen can use any 'related material surface' to its advantage to further spread rather than only depending on direct human-to-human contact.

In May 2022, a monkeypox outbreak was confirmed by health authorities due to a series of related cases in the United Kingdom, where the first case was reported in London involving a traveler who recently went to Nigeria at that time.

Since then, the mpox outbreak has reportedly reached the United States and all continents of the globe, reaching thousands of cases and over a hundred deaths.

Mpox Virus on Inanimate Surfaces

(Photo : Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 05: Residents wait in line at a DC Health location administering the monkeypox vaccine on August 5, 2022 in Washington, DC. The U.S. government declared the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency in order to bring awareness and resources to combat the spreading of the virus.

In a new study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases, researchers from the Ruhr University and Heinrich-Heine-University in Germany placed a collected sample of mpox virus on stainless steel discs. In their findings, the virus managed to remain on the stainless steel surface even though the temperatures were 39.2, 71.6, or 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

The research team also concluded the highly infectious pathogen can survive more the cooler the temperature. For instance, the mpox viruses were unable to reproduce beyond one week if the temperatures were set to 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (36 degrees Celsius).

However, their survival period increased for up to 10 to 11 days when the temperatures were lowered down to 39.2 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius), as summarized by Forbes.

The study is based on the human monkeypox virus, also called MPXV, outbreaks that spread internationally in 2022, which caused widespread concern. Testing inanimate surfaces, the team acknowledged that it is still unclear if whether the mpox virus will survive or die in the same way in other types of surfaces, including wood, plastic, and even rock.

Also Read: Monkeypox Origin Theories Point to Labs in Wuhan and Ukraine - Hoax?

Mpox Symptoms

The most common mpox symptoms are skin rash that can last for two to four weeks, and it is accompanied by back pain, fever, headache, low energy, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Mpox virus can be transmitted through physical contact, including kissing and sex. In addition, contaminated materials and animals can also be a means to spread the virus, The WHO.

Mpox Vaccine

Similar to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the current mpox virus outbreak already has a vaccine called the JYNNEOS, a 2-dose vaccine which was developed to protect a person against mpox and smallpox infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on May 5.

In recent days, U.S. health officials expressed concern regarding the potential continuation of the mpox outbreak into summer months, which will start in June. This came after more than 20 mpox cases were recorded in the Chicago area since mid-April, CBS Evening News reported.