Why is monkey pox more common with gay men

While anyone can get monkeypox, the current outbreak is overwhelmingly affecting sexually active gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. According to emerging viruses specialist Yannick Simonin, anyone who has close physical contact with another person who has contracted monkeypox is at risk, regardless of their sexual orientation.

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

And why are the overwhelming majority of those affected men who have sex with men (MSM)? A long history of work on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and early studies of the current outbreak suggest the answers may be linked: The virus may have made its way into highly interconnected sexual networks within the MSM community, where it can. 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. Does monkeypox spread faster among gay and bisexual men? The short answer is no.

Anyone can be infected by monkeypox. The virus is not a sexually transmitted infection.

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

It's. People are smarter, more pragmatic, and more compassionate than we give them credit for. By Benjamin Ryan and Matt Lavietes. Very few cases are linked to community transmission. If we take the time to share evidence with them about the challenges that stigmatized communities face, they will be more willing to support policies and efforts to address these challenges. I believe this knowledge will help us end the outbreak before it bridges into other communities.

People generally preferred programs focused on the general population as opposed to those tailored for key marginalized populations. Search Search. Having HIV was not associated with any differences in monkeypox health outcomes. The World Health Organization recently declared the current outbreak a global public health emergency.

A recent study conducted by my team aimed to demonstrate the importance of public health education by asking Canadians to participate in a discrete choice experiment. In fact, for one year of marginal life gained, there was a 15 per cent increase in the odds that participants chose that program. This is the largest ever global outbreak of the disease.

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. Of those who received testing, 29 percent had a sexually transmitted infection, or STI.

Atypical to what has generally been seen in monkeypox cases in the 11 African nations where the virus has become endemic since it was first discovered in humans inpeople contracting monkeypox during this outbreak often have their initial development of lesions in the anorectal or genital area. Scientists note these findings do not confirm that semen transmits the virus. However, in public health, honesty really is the best policy.

In the new global study, the men had a median age of 38 and ranged between 18 and 68 years old. With fears mounting among infectious disease experts that the virus will become endemic in the U. This is why getting vaccinated and making sure that everyone has equal access to these vaccines is of such great importance. Protecting gay and bisexual men first, protects everyone.

Read the topline document for additional details. A man gets the monkeypox why is monkey pox more common with gay men in Encino, California, on Sept. Share This Link:. This may be due to changes in the fundamental transmission dynamic of MPXV or due to enhanced cleaning procedures implemented in response to COVID in places such as gyms and restrooms.

The United States declared monkeypox a public health emergency on Aug. Edition: Europe. Many countries are offering vaccinations to sexually active gay and bisexual men who are at greatest risk of contracting the disease. Latest Stories U. Link copied. Link copied.