Why are gays getting monkeypox

The individual, whose identity has not been made public, was reportedly severely immunocompromised and had been hospitalized. And why are the overwhelming majority of those affected men who have sex with men (MSM)?. This report describes the risk for mpox recurrence among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men.

Our wellness advice is expert-vetted. It can also be passed on by touching surfaces, clothing or other objects used by someone with monkeypox, and via large respiratory droplets, such as through coughing or sneezing. No. Monkeypox appears to be spreading now among some sexual and social networks of gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men (MSM).

Though cases appear to be tapering off, "a downward trend can be the most dangerous time if it opens the door to complacency," World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned during a Sept. While anyone can get monkeypox, the current outbreak is overwhelmingly affecting sexually active gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.

Here's what you need to know about monkeypox, including whether it's a sexually transmitted infection, how it's impacting the gay community and how the virus could interact with HIV. The first reported cases of monkeypox in the US were inall linked to infected prairie dogs being kept as pets.

Facts on Monkeypox and

A post shared by Jeffrey Todd thejeffreytodd. The US declared monkeypox a federal public health emergency on Aug. That announcement followed similar emergency declarations by California, Illinois and New York. It was first documented in humans in and is endemic in parts of Central and West Africa, especially the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Texas Department of State Health Services reported last month that a Houston resident with monkeypox died, but the virus' role in the death hasn't been confirmed. When the WHO declared the disease a global health emergency on July 23, Tedros underscored the importance of adopting policies that protected the dignity and civil liberties of affected communities.

Forcier also said that "calling the monkeypox virus an STI and linking it to our culture's view of sex as scary or shameful may keep persons exposed or infected from getting medical attention. However, there is no such thing as a gay disease. Monkeypox can present as a rash or individual sores that look like pimples or blisters.

There have been more than 22, cases of monkeypox reported in the US as of Sept. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. According to the LA Department of Public Health, the announcement underscores the heightened risk the virus poses to individuals with compromised immune systems, including those with HIV, and the importance of seeking medical care if infection is discovered or suspected.

Ever since monkeypox started to sicken thousands of people worldwide this spring, two big questions have loomed: Why is a virus that has never managed to spread beyond a few cases outside Africa suddenly causing such a big, global outbreak?

It may also lead individuals to mistakenly think precautions used for STIs will stop monkeypox. As of Sept. They can appear almost anywhere on the body, including the hands, face, chest, groin and inside the mouth or anus. Here's what you need to know about monkeypox, including whether it's a sexually transmitted infection, how it's impacting the gay community and how the virus could interact with HIV.

Monkeypox is a virus in the same family as smallpox, though it is milder and rarely fatal. Reviews ethics statement. All three states are home to large gay communities and, to date, men who have sex with men are the largest sector of the population impacted by the outbreak.

When the outbreak was first reported, medical experts were careful not to classify monkeypox as a sexually transmitted infection. Transmission can occur via direct skin-to-skin contact with infected lesions, rashes, scabs or fluids. Experts say the virus is particularly dangerous to individuals with compromised immune systems.