Rapid inactivation of vaccinia, a surrogate virus for monkeypox and smallpox, using ultraviolet-C disinfection

Human monkeypox is an emerging health threat that has the potential to cause serious sequelae. Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) disinfection is a physical process that triggers microbial inactivation through irreversible DNA damage. A high-output mobile UV-C unit was evaluated against vaccinia, a monkeypox surrogate, for antimicrobial efficacy. In under 7 minutes, a single UV-C cycle had a virucidal efficacy of ≥ 99.996 % in a 200 sq feet area. UV-C technology is a promising strategy for infection prevention and control in the post-COVID era.