Why is monkey pox related to gay men
Since early May, more than 23,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported worldwide. This is the largest ever global outbreak of the disease.
Cases have now been reported in 78 countries including the UK, Spain, Germany, France, the US and Brazil. Given the scale of the outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) has now declared the current monkeypox epidemic a global health emergency.
While anyone can get monkeypox, the current outbreak is overwhelmingly affecting sexually active gay, pansexual and other men who have sex with men. In fact, our recent study which looked at 528 monkeypox infections since the start of the outbreak found that 98% of these infections had occurred in this collective. Here’s what these men need to know.
How it spreads
Monkeypox is a disease caused by infection with the human monkeypox virus, which comes from the same virus family as smallpox. In fact, symptoms are quite similar to smallpox and include fever, headache, muscle aches, chills, cold symptoms (such as a cough or sore throat).
Symptoms are also accompanied by a rash that appears in blisters on the face, genitals, the chest and help, and on the hands and feet. Some people also experience ve
Monkeypox and gay men: Separating stigma from health advice
BBC News
A large proportion of monkeypox cases diagnosed in the UK are among gay and pansexual men.
Doctors and public-health experts have spoken to the BBC about the "delicate balance" of keeping those currently most at uncertainty informed, without stigmatising them or letting others change into complacent.
Does monkeypox spread faster among gay and bisexual men?
The small answer is no. Anyone can be infected by monkeypox.
The virus is not a sexually transmitted infection. It's mostly caught through close physical skin-to-skin contact, which is why it can be spread to sexual partners.
But with most confirmed cases among men who contain sex with men, doctors are encouraging this team to be particularly aware to symptoms.
Mateo Prochazka, an epidemiologist from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said: "The infections are not about sexuality. We are concerned about monkeypox in general, as a public threat. We are worried about everyone's health."
So why are same-sex attracted men catching it more right no
Monkeypox: Why are same-sex attracted and bisexual men more affected?
Regardless of sexual orientation, the main factor of propagation remains the multiplicity of sexual partners.
Lire en françaisAs of July 26, Monkeypox has not caused any deaths in Europe, but the disease is gaining ground. With nearly 17,000 cases worldwide, World Health Corporation (WHO) director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus triggered the top level of aware on monkeypox on July 23.
Santé Publique France (SPF), France's public health agency, has recorded 1,567 patients in the country since May. 3% of those have been hospitalized. This epidemic differs from the waves observed so far in a dozen African countries, notably in the patients' profile: almost exclusively men, most of them males who have sex with males, known as "MSM" in the scientific community.
Read moreMonkeypox: How is it transmitted and what are the symptoms?
The question is why MSM are overrepresented among the affected. First, it is important to hold in mind that the SPF figures are still incomplete. Screening is just starting and complicated by the truth that symptoms are nonspecific. "This virus behaves like a great imitator of herpes or
‘I felt like I was dirty’: experiences of same-sex attracted men diagnosed with mpox in England
“After I left the clinic, I got very emotional. Not because I had monkeypox…But I felt let down by the way the discourse, and the way that the infection, the virus or whatever it is, was being portrayed as well. It took me to a place where I just didn’t expect to feel in terms of my exposure, as a gay dude, with lots of privilege in lots of ways. Usually I felt enjoy I had dignity in the [health] service and the way I am treated by the government and the likes of that. And it just kind of really sped away suddenly.”
A recent study found that men diagnosed with mpox, clinicians and community stakeholders think that the government's perceived inaction towards the illness was due to its association with stigmatised sexual minorities. This systemic defeat was often compared to the initial response to the AIDS crisis.
Glossary
stigma
Social attitudes that suggest that having a particular illness or being in a particular situation is something to be ashamed of. Stigma can be questioned and challenged.
cisgender (cis)
A person whose gender identity and verbalization matches the biologic
Monkeypox: vaccine to be offered more widely to aide control outbreak
A strategy published today by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recommends that some gay and bisexual men at higher risk of exposure to monkeypox should be offered vaccines to assist control the recent outbreak of the virus.
Although anyone can contract monkeypox, statistics from the latest outbreak shows higher levels of transmission within – but not exclusive to – the sexual networks of homosexual, bisexual and other men who contain sex with men.
The virus is not currently defined as a sexually transmitted infection, but it can be passed on by shut and intimate contact that occurs during sex.
In response, the UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) vaccination strategy recommends offering the smallpox vaccine Imvanex, which is shown to be effective against monkeypox, to men considered to be at higher risk of exposure.
The strategy is endorsed by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which was consulted on the eligibility criteria for the vaccine.
An individual’s eligibility would trust on a number of factors but would be similar to the criteria used to evaluate those eligible for HIV pre-exposure
Monkeypox: Why are same-sex attracted and bisexual men more affected?
Regardless of sexual orientation, the main factor of propagation remains the multiplicity of sexual partners.
As of July 26, Monkeypox has not caused any deaths in Europe, but the disease is gaining ground. With nearly 17,000 cases worldwide, World Health Corporation (WHO) director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus triggered the top level of aware on monkeypox on July 23.
Santé Publique France (SPF), France's public health agency, has recorded 1,567 patients in the country since May. 3% of those have been hospitalized. This epidemic differs from the waves observed so far in a dozen African countries, notably in the patients' profile: almost exclusively men, most of them males who have sex with males, known as "MSM" in the scientific community.
Read moreMonkeypox: How is it transmitted and what are the symptoms?
The question is why MSM are overrepresented among the affected. First, it is important to hold in mind that the SPF figures are still incomplete. Screening is just starting and complicated by the truth that symptoms are nonspecific. "This virus behaves like a great imitator of herpes or
‘I felt like I was dirty’: experiences of same-sex attracted men diagnosed with mpox in England
“After I left the clinic, I got very emotional. Not because I had monkeypox…But I felt let down by the way the discourse, and the way that the infection, the virus or whatever it is, was being portrayed as well. It took me to a place where I just didn’t expect to feel in terms of my exposure, as a gay dude, with lots of privilege in lots of ways. Usually I felt enjoy I had dignity in the [health] service and the way I am treated by the government and the likes of that. And it just kind of really sped away suddenly.”
A recent study found that men diagnosed with mpox, clinicians and community stakeholders think that the government's perceived inaction towards the illness was due to its association with stigmatised sexual minorities. This systemic defeat was often compared to the initial response to the AIDS crisis.
Glossary
stigma
Social attitudes that suggest that having a particular illness or being in a particular situation is something to be ashamed of. Stigma can be questioned and challenged.
cisgender (cis)
A person whose gender identity and verbalization matches the biologic
Monkeypox: vaccine to be offered more widely to aide control outbreak
A strategy published today by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recommends that some gay and bisexual men at higher risk of exposure to monkeypox should be offered vaccines to assist control the recent outbreak of the virus.
Although anyone can contract monkeypox, statistics from the latest outbreak shows higher levels of transmission within – but not exclusive to – the sexual networks of homosexual, bisexual and other men who contain sex with men.
The virus is not currently defined as a sexually transmitted infection, but it can be passed on by shut and intimate contact that occurs during sex.
In response, the UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) vaccination strategy recommends offering the smallpox vaccine Imvanex, which is shown to be effective against monkeypox, to men considered to be at higher risk of exposure.
The strategy is endorsed by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which was consulted on the eligibility criteria for the vaccine.
An individual’s eligibility would trust on a number of factors but would be similar to the criteria used to evaluate those eligible for HIV pre-exposure