Monkeypox is a sexually transmitted disease among gay men

Monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or “gay disease” that is only spread between men who engage in sexual relations with other men, contrary to social media posts online. While anyone can get monkeypox, the current outbreak is overwhelmingly affecting sexually active gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. Monkeypox Is a Sexually Transmitted Infection, and Knowing That Can Help Protect People In the U.S., Black and Latino men who have sex with men are most vulnerable to monkeypox.

All but one case occurred among men, and many were among gay and bisexual men. No one is known to have died in the current outbreak. How is monkeypox spread? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Monkeypox spreads between people primarily through direct contact with infectious sores, scabs, or body fluids.

Taken in context, the temporal and anatomic association with various sex practices, the high prevalence of sexual risk behavior among patients with monkeypox, and the in vitro infectiousness of monkeypox virus isolated from semen strongly suggest that monkeypox can be and is predominantly transmitted through sexual activities. We are in a crucial period.

Monkeypox: an expert explains what gay and bisexual men need to know

A large proportion of monkeypox cases diagnosed in the UK are among gay and bisexual men. We are concerned about monkeypox in general, as a public threat. In Srebrenica, 30 years after the genocide, the 'vicious circle' of denial continues. Alex Sparrowhawk, from the trust's health improvement team, says they're worried people might mistakenly regard monkeypox as a so-called gay disease and says everyone needs to be aware of the signs and symptoms.

Sections U. In addition to the symptoms usually reported in endemic areas, some patients suffer from new conditions such as angina or rectitis inflammation of the rectal mucosa. Jaime Garcia-Iglesias, a sociologist at the University of Edinburgh who has studied how Aids and Covid affected certain communities, says there's a "significant risk" that the stigma "comes to the surface again" and might stop people from seeking the help they need.

Monkeypox is a disease caused by infection with the human monkeypox virus, which comes from the same virus family as smallpox. There have probably been mutations in the virus that have changed the transmission chains. Beyond the high risk of contamination attributed to close contact, the scientific community is closely monitoring the possible evolution of the virus into a sexually transmitted infection STI.

Typically this means skin-to-skin contact, especially contact with the rashes and skin lesions caused by the disease. There is a theory that a return of demand for international travel since Covid lockdowns were eased could have played a part in the initial spread. The declaration of a worldwide pandemic by the WHO will hopefully serve to co-ordinate the global response and open up the possibility of mass production of several vaccines with access for all.

Monkeypox and gay men: Separating stigma from health advice

He says: "It just happens that the infection appears to have been introduced in networks of gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men. What is monkeypox and how do you catch it? Monkeypox is transmitted by direct contact, including through mucous membranes and skin lesions or by contact with contaminated surfaces or objects. How to tell if a rash might be monkeypox Monkeypox patients should avoid pet contact.

Condom use alone is not sufficient, which distinguishes, among other factors, monkeypox from STIs. Eventually, the virus could be transmitted from humans to animals and evolve into a retro-zoonosis. As of July 26, Monkeypox has not caused any deaths in Europe, but the disease is gaining ground. Condom use alone is not enough, which is one of the ways monkeypox is different from STIs.

Link copied. We know that the virus can persist on surfaces for a long time — sometimes up to several weeks. It's hoped the virus is rare enough that it can be contained. How to tell if it is monkeypox. With fears mounting among infectious disease experts that the virus will become endemic in the U. I call for finishing vaccination of those at risk by the start of the school year.

Varma, an infectious disease expert at Weill Cornell Medicine.