Why is monkeypox in the gay community

While anyone can get monkeypox, the current outbreak is overwhelmingly affecting sexually active gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. 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.

Anyone can get monkeypox, but in the latest outbreak, the virus is predominantly spreading among gay and bisexual men. Officials noted Monday that most of the people affected reported some. Monkeypox (mpox) has disproportionately affected gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM); the percentage of MSM with immunity due to vaccination or infection varies among jurisdictions.

GSSPI collaborated with the Los Angeles LGBT Center to produce an infographic explaining how monkeypox is spread, what symptoms to look for, and what steps to take if an infection is suspected. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U. What is Monkeypox?

Gay, bisexual men see monkeypox as threat, are critical of US response | Pew Research Center

People are smarter, more pragmatic, and more compassionate than we give them credit for. The World Health Organization has declared the virus a global health emergency. He acknowledges the "delicate balance between achieving freedom of choice and freedom of infection" and says it's important people are well-equipped to make their own decisions. Straight men are evenly divided in their assessments. Typically this means skin-to-skin contact, especially contact with the rashes and skin lesions caused by the disease.

Giancarlo Pasquini is a research associate focusing on science and society research at Pew Research Center. Although public health agencies such as the WHO, CDC, ECDC and UKHSA have already done a lot to provide clear, non-stigmatising guidance to at-risk groups, it may be important ensure this information is now disseminated in places where they will have the greatest impact — such as on dating apps, for example. Edition: Europe.

Read the topline document for additional details. Link copied. It is true that MPXV can transmit through more casual contact and through fomites inanimate objects on which some microbes can survive, such as bed linens, towels or tables. How to tell if a rash might be monkeypox Monkeypox patients should avoid pet contact. In fact, people were least likely to prefer interventions tailored for sexual and gender minorities.

Events More events. If you don't have any symptoms and you're due to attend a regular sexual-health check-up, you're urged to go ahead as planned. Very few cases are linked to community transmission. What is monkeypox and how do you catch it? Monkeypox is from the same virus family as smallpox. Skip to content.

Why it’s important to tell people that monkeypox is predominately affecting gay and bisexual men

In fact, symptoms are quite similar to smallpox and include fever, headache, muscle aches, chills, cold symptoms such as a cough or sore throat. As monkeypox is often caught through direct contact, once it's introduced to a community, it is more likely to spread through that community among those who are in close contact with each other - for example, within a household or among sexual partners.

Informing the public about MPXV is important because public opinion plays an important role in shaping public health policiessuch as who gets access to vaccines and what interventions are used to stop disease transmission. People generally preferred programs focused on the general population as opposed to those tailored for key marginalized populations.

For most people, the disease usually resolves within two to three weeks. Got a new rash? It's hoped the virus is rare enough that it can be contained. Others have warned that connecting MPXV to an already stigmatized community will worsen stigma towards gay sex.