WHO Advises To Limit Sexual Partners Amid Monkeypox Surge
Gay, bisexual, and MSM community are at the highest risk of Monkeypox right now - as around 98 percent of infected men are bisexual or gay
Image: Dado Ruvic/Reuters
With rising monkeypox cases worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that the highly affected group by this virus is MSM (men who have sex with men community). Therefore, the WHO has urged gay and bisexual men to limit their sexual partners. Currently, monkeypox is a global health emergency due to the rapidly increasing number of cases, with no cure in sight.
In an interview, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus mentioned that the only way right now to protect against this infection is to decrease the exposure risk. So far, over 18,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported. The cases are from 78 different countries with 70 percent of cases being reported from Europe and 25 percent from America.
The monkeypox infection started increasing in May this year outside the Central and West African countries. So far, there have been five deaths since May and about 10 percent of the infected patients have been hospitalized to alleviate the pain.
Image: Aljazeera
While 98 percent of the cases have occurred in the MSM community, this infection can spread to “anyone.” According to the experts, the disease transmission results in blistering rashes that occur during close, physical contact. However, monkeypox has not been declared a sexually transmitted disease (STD).
Experts also warn against discrimination and stigma in one community. This infection spreads through regular skin-to-skin contact and via droplets and touching a contaminated surface and things like towels or bedsheets. So, anyone exposed to it may catch the infection. Such exposure can transmit the infection to other vulnerable groups, like pregnant women, children, and immunosuppressed people.
Andy Seale from WHO has stressed that the measures to reduce sexual partners in MSN communities are short-term. Medical experts are looking for appropriate measures to reduce the number of cases while spreading information about disease symptoms.
Currently, there are no bulk vaccinations for monkeypox. But on availability, the targeted vaccination will be for people with high-risk exposure, like health workers and those with several sexual partners.
Tedros also stated that vaccinations wouldn’t give instant protection against this infection. It would take various weeks to develop the immunity. However, the authorities have said they will ensure equitable access to vaccines for everyone and all communities impacted by monkeypox in all regions and countries.
Via: Aljazeera
