German Study Warns That Mpox Could Be Spread by Fomites and Airborne Transmissions
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Dec 02, 2025 53 minutes ago
Medical News: A New Warning from Scientists in Germany
A new investigation by German researchers is raising concern about how the Mpox (monkeypox) virus may spread in hospitals and possibly beyond. While mpox has long been understood to spread mainly through close physical contact, a new study suggests that surfaces, dust particles, and even indoor air may contribute more to transmission than previously thought. This
Medical News report examines what scientists uncovered when they monitored the hospital room of Germany’s first imported mpox clade Ib patient.
German Study Warns That Mpox Could Be Spread by Fomites and Airborne Transmissions
The research was led by teams from WittenHerdecke University, Cologne Merheim Medical Centre, Cologne Holweide Medical Centre, University Hospital Cologne, and the Robert Koch Institute.
What Researchers Did in The Hospital Room
Over eight days, the team collected 100 surface swabs, 12 air samples, and several HEPA air-filter samples from the patient’s room, bathroom, and anteroom. Sampling was always done at least six hours after cleaning, ensuring the results were not simply leftovers from recent disinfection.
Scientists swabbed items like the toilet seat, sink, bedrails, window boards, light fixtures, remote controls and countertops. They also used specialized air samplers to capture particles at different distances from the patient’s bed. HEPA filters from the room’s ventilation system and a mobile air purifier were cut open and analyzed for trapped viral particles.
What They Found on Surfaces and In the Air
The results were striking. Of the 100 surfaces tested, 92 percent contained mpox DNA, including areas far from where the patient sat or slept. Even a light bar positioned two meters above the bed was contaminated.
Air samples also showed widespread viral presence: 11 out of 12 air samples tested positive, including samples taken two meters away from the patient. The HEPA filters in the room and bathroom were also positive for the virus, showing that viral particles had been circulating in the room air before being trapped in the filters.
Although almost all samples contained viral genetic material, only one sample—a toilet seat swab from the first day—contained live, replication-competent virus. This means that while contamination is widespread, the risk of actual airborne or fomite infection remains uncertain.
What This Study Means for The Public
The findings show that mpox clade Ib can heavily contaminate hospital environments, highlighting why strong cleaning routines, protective equipment, and good ventilation are vital. While widespread DNA contamination does not automatically prove high transmission risk, the fact that potentially infectious particles were found on surfaces and that viral DNA appeared in air samples suggests that indirect and airborne routes should not be dismissed. The researchers stress t
hat more epidemiological studies are needed to understand actual risk levels in homes, public places, and hospitals.
Final Thoughts
The study reinforces that mpox may spread more broadly in enclosed spaces than previously believed. It also emphasizes that even when live virus is rarely found, extensive contamination still matters because it shows how easily viral material disperses. With emerging viral strains like clade Ib, understanding every possible transmission pathway is crucial for preventing outbreaks and protecting both healthcare workers and the general population.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed Journal of Hospital Infection.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195670125003950
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