Experts Say Its "Unlikely" To Catch Monkey Pox From Gym Equipment

Dr. Jessica Justman, associate professor of medicine in epidemiology at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, says it's "unlikely" for a variety of reasons, including that gym equipment, unlike linens, is "not very porous," which means it's easier to wipe the virus off — something that happens "now more than ever," because of likely in-place COVID-19 protocols.

Important to note, Justman says, is that the monkeypox virus is an "enveloped virus," meaning "each virus particle is coated with a fatty membrane, which is easily disrupted by detergents and other cleaning agents. Without an envelope, the virus is no longer infectious."

Further adding to the low risk factor here, she explains, is that the most infectious areas of this virus are the sores, or pustular lesions, "which tend to be in the genital area." So, for a transmission from such a sore to take place via a gym mat, for example, "someone with monkeypox would first work out on a mat while wearing clothing that does not cover the sores. This person would not wipe the mat down when done. Finally, a second person would work out on the mat while wearing only minimal clothing in order to have direct contact with the mat."

Justman adds, "It's very hard to imagine this complex scenario."

A recent assessment of ranked monkeypox risks from NBC News Chicago that's already been turned into a widely distributed chart agreed, citing Chicago Department of Public Health officials and calling gym equipment (along with public restrooms) "highly unlikely," and noting that "no such cases have been reported so far."