Can you get monkeypox from bed sheets?

Monkeypox is a viral infection that has recently been spreading in countries where it is not commonly found. The outbreak has raised questions about how monkeypox spreads and whether things like shared bedding could pose a risk for transmission.

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What is monkeypox?

Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus, which is a member of the same family of viruses as smallpox. Monkeypox symptoms are similar to smallpox but milder. It was first discovered in 1958 when two outbreaks occurred in colonies of monkeys that were being used for research. The first human case was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Prior to the 2022 outbreak, most cases occurred in Central and Western Africa.

Monkeypox can cause the following symptoms:

Fever
Headache

Muscle aches
Backache
Swollen lymph nodes

Chills
Exhaustion
Respiratory symptoms (e.g. sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough)

Within 1-3 days of onset of fever, a rash usually develops. This progresses through several stages before crusting over and falling off. The rash often starts on the face and spreads to other parts of the body. Lesions can appear on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. The rash tends to be concentrated on the face, arms, legs, palms of the hands, and soles of the feet. Monkeypox can be fatal in some cases.

How does monkeypox spread?

Monkeypox spreads through close, personal contact. The virus enters the body through broken skin, the respiratory tract, or the mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, or mouth. Monkeypox is not as contagious as some other viruses like COVID-19.

Monkeypox spreads primarily through:

Direct contact with monkeypox rash, scabs, or body fluids from a person with monkeypox. This includes touching clothing, bedding, towels or other objects that have been in contact with monkeypox lesions.
Respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact.
During intimate physical contact, including sex, kissing, cuddling, or touching parts of the body with monkeypox rashes.

Pregnant women can spread the virus to their fetus through the placenta.

The monkeypox virus can survive on surfaces and remain infectious for long periods, so shared items like clothing, bedding, and towels can pose a risk. However, touching objects like doorknobs or computer keyboards that have been touched by someone with monkeypox is less likely to cause infection.

Can you get monkeypox from bed sheets or bedding?

Yes, it is possible to get monkeypox from infected bed sheets or bedding, but the risk is relatively low compared to direct skin-to-skin contact.

Here’s what to know about the risk from bedding:

The monkeypox virus can survive on fabric and other surfaces from several hours up to a couple weeks, depending on conditions.
Contact with linens, towels, or clothing used by someone with monkeypox could potentially transfer infectious virus particles.

However, touching intact (unbroken) skin to contaminated bedding carries a lower chance of virus transmission than direct skin-to-skin contact with rashes or scabs.
The amount of virus on bedding decreases over time as the material dries.
Laundering linen or clothes eliminates any remaining virus particles.

Sharing a bed with or having close personal contact with someone who has monkeypox presents a greater infection risk than just sleeping in a bed they used. However, precautions should still be taken around potentially contaminated bedding.

How to handle bedding safely if you or someone you live with gets monkeypox

If you or someone you share a home with develops monkeypox, you can take some simple precautions to avoid spread through bedding:

Avoid sharing towels, linens and other bedding while the person is infectious.

The person with monkeypox should change and launder their sheets, clothes and towels regularly.
Wear disposable gloves when handling soiled laundry.
Soiled laundry should not be shaken or handled in ways that could spread virus particles.

Wash laundry thoroughly with detergent and hot water – at least 130°F – to kill any virus.
Items that aren’t machine washable can be disinfected with hydrogen peroxide or hypochlorite solutions.
Clean any laundry baskets or hampers that contained infected material.

Use disposable cleaning equipment like sponges or paper towels whenever possible.

With proper hand hygiene and laundering or disinfection, bedding and other materials touched by someone with monkeypox should be safe to handle.

When is it safe to use bedding or linen after monkeypox exposure?

Here are some general guidelines for when it’s safe to reuse bedding potentially contaminated with monkeypox:

Wait until any rash and scabs from monkeypox have fully healed before reusing sheets or clothes.
Launder used linens at least twice after monkeypox exposure.
Allow sheets or clothing to sit unused for 3-4 days before handling or washing to allow any virus to die off.

Wash and dry laundry on the highest heat settings items can withstand.
For items that can’t be washed, steam cleaning may also eliminate virus particles.
Make sure to wash hands thoroughly after putting laundry in the machine.

If you are uncertain about whether bedding or clothing is still infectious, the safest option is to isolate it in a sealed bag for a couple weeks to allow any residual virus to die off.

How to disinfect mattresses or furniture exposed to monkeypox

Mattresses, couches, and other furnishings can technically harbor monkeypox virus if someone with an active rash sat or laid on them. Here are tips for cleaning and disinfecting furnishings:

Use disinfectants effective against pox viruses like hydrogen peroxide, accelerated hydrogen peroxide, alcohols or sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solutions.

For upholstered surfaces like couches, apply disinfectant liberally and allow to fully dry.
Steam cleaning may help disinfect soft furnishings if drenching them in liquids could damage materials.
Mattresses can be disinfected with dilute bleach solutions or upholstery cleaners.

Allow plenty of time for disinfectant solutions to dry completely before reusing furniture.
If possible, isolate items that can’t be washed or steamed for 2-3 weeks until any virus is no longer viable.

With the proper cleaning methods, the risk of getting monkeypox from furniture or mattresses is low. Focus efforts on items that had direct contact with skin lesions or body fluids.

Can you get monkeypox from hotel bedding?

The chances of catching monkeypox from hotel bed linens is extremely low. Here’s why:

Hotel linens are changed after each guest stays.
Soiled bedding and towels are washed at high temperatures that destroy monkeypox.

Virus remaining on surfaces decreases over time.
Maids wear gloves and other PPE when cleaning.
Few hotel guests currently have active monkeypox infections.

To minimize any risks, you can request rooms be left vacant for 24-48 hours before your stay. But in general, hotel bedding poses little danger of exposure to monkeypox or other pathogens.

Can you get monkeypox from public laundry facilities?

The potential for getting monkeypox from shared public laundry facilities, such as at an apartment complex, university dorm, or laundromat is extremely low. Here’s why:

It would require someone with active monkeypox rash to have very recently used the facility.

Any virus on clothing would have to transfer to your skin while handling the laundry.
Virus gradually dies off over time in the environment.
The wash and dry cycle further eliminates virus.

To minimize any potential risk:

Wear gloves when handling laundry.
Don’t touch your face or mouth while loading laundry.

Wash your hands well after handling clothes.
Use the highest heat drying setting possible.

However, the chances of catching monkeypox or other illnesses from doing laundry in a shared facility remain extremely remote.

Can clothes or bedding spread monkeypox after washing?

No, clothing or bedding that has been thoroughly laundered does not pose a risk for transmitting monkeypox. Here’s why:

The combination of hot water, laundry detergent, and drying effectively kills monkeypox virus and removes it from fabrics.
Any trace amounts of virus would be further reduced as materials continue drying over time after washing.

For added safety, use the highest temperature water and drying heat fabrics can withstand.
Washing machines would also dilute and rinse away viral particles in the wash water.
Studies show viruses like monkeypox don’t last long on fabrics, especially after washing.

Normal laundry hygiene is sufficient to eliminate risks from monkeypox. There is no need to quarantine clothes after they have been washed – clean laundry is very unlikely to spread the virus.

How to protect yourself from monkeypox

While the risk of getting monkeypox from bedding and other objects appears low, it’s wise to take general precautions. Steps you can take to avoid monkeypox exposure include:

Avoid direct, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a new or unexplained rash.

Do not touch rashes or scabs from infected individuals.
Avoid close contact like hugging, cuddling, or kissing with someone who has confirmed or suspected monkeypox.
Do not share towels, bedding, cups, utensils, or clothing with a person who has monkeypox.

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based sanitizer.
Use personal protective equipment (gloves, mask) if caring for someone with monkeypox.
Avoid contact with objects like bedding that have been in direct contact with monkeypox rashes until they have been disinfected and washed.

Being vaccinated against smallpox/monkeypox and isolating infected individuals also helps control spread. With proper precautions, your personal risk of getting monkeypox remains low.

Key points

Monkeypox can spread through fabrics and other surfaces contaminated by skin lesions or body fluids, but this is less transmissible than direct contact.
Sheets, towels, and clothing used by someone with monkeypox could potentially transmit virus particles.

However, intact skin touching contaminated bedding carries lower infection risk than skin-to-skin contact with rashes/scabs.
Laundering fabrics and disinfecting surfaces eliminates any traces of virus.
With good hygiene, bedding, laundry and other fomites pose very little monkeypox risk after proper cleaning.

The bottom line

It is possible but unlikely to get monkeypox from bed sheets or shared laundry facilities. While monkeypox can theoretically spread through contaminated surfaces, bedding and clothes do not pose a significant risk after being washed and dried. By handling laundry carefully and avoiding direct contact with rashes, your risk of catching monkeypox from sheets or linen remains extremely low.