Is monkeypox sexually transmitted? -Life Health

According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, the current number of monkeypox cases in Europe is mainly among men who have sex with men.

However, the World Health Organization considers that monkeypox in humans is being reported to be transmitted through sexual contact, but it is not a sexually transmitted disease.

Smallpox was first found in monkeys in 1958, and is contagious and circulating in certain parts of Africa, but recent cases in Europe and North America have led researchers to Research is confused because there are no confirmed cases related to Africa.

WHO estimates there are thousands of monkeypox infections in about a dozen African countries each year. Most are in Congo, which reports about 6,000 cases annually, and Nigeria, with about 3,000 cases annually. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccines used to eradicate smallpox are up to 85 percent effective against monkeypox, but vaccination campaigns have stopped working since the disease began. Smallpox is excluded.

Transmission of monkeypox can occur during close intimacy such as sex.

1. Close activity such as sex carries a high risk of monkeypox infection

As of 23 May 2022, 67 confirmed cases have been reported in nine EU/EEA member states (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden) and at least 42 other suspected cases are under investigation. Currently diagnosed human cases of monkeypox are mainly in men who have sex with men, suggesting that transmission can occur during intimate contact. Transmission can occur through close contact with mucous membranes or intact skin with infectious material from the lesion, or through large respiratory droplets during prolonged face-to-face contact.

Most cases now have mild symptoms, and for the broader population, the likelihood of transmission is very low. However, the possibility of further spreading the virus through close contact, for example during sexual activities between people with multiple partners, is considered high.

Andrea Ammon, Director of ECDC

2. Monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted disease

The outbreak quickly spread across Europe and North America last week and is expected to spread further as more doctors look for signs and symptoms, CNBC reported. Although the virus itself is not a sexually transmitted disease, usually spread through semen and vaginal fluids, the most recent increase in cases appears to have spread among men who have sex. sex with other men.

The virus is spread through close contact with people, animals, or materials contaminated with the virus. It enters the body through the skin, respiratory tract, eyes, nose, and mouth. According to the US CDC, although person-to-person transmission also occurs by inhalation, long-term direct contact is required. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, monkeypox is a disease caused by a virus in the same family as smallpox, but not as serious. However, monkeypox can kill 1 in 10 people who get it, based on observations in Africa.

Scott Gottlieb, board member of Pfizer, genetic testing startup Tempus, healthcare technology company Aetion and biotech company Illumina said monkeypox could be a possible case of monkeypox. causing chaos where it is spreading. Dr Scott Gottlieb said there will be more confirmed cases in the US in the coming weeks as doctors and public health officials reassess patients who have developed symptoms and the virus continues to spread. .

People worry about a virus that causes monkeypox in Canadian hospitals. Photo Sebastian Condrea / Getty Images

Canada’s top doctor says monkeypox is unusually contagious, but the risk of infection is low. Dr. Howard Njoo, deputy director of public health for Canada, said smallpox was eradicated by vaccination in 1980 and its vaccine could be used against monkeypox. Dr. Njoo added that the overall risk for the general population is “low,” but that people can protect from monkeypox through measures used to prevent COVID-19, like wearing a mask and keeping safe. good hygiene.

Investigators in Canada are trying to figure out how the disease is being transmitted between people. Several cases have been reported in men who have sex with men.

“The community of men who have sex with men has been horribly stigmatized about its association with infection,” said Angela Rasmussen, a infectious disease and vaccine virologist at the University of Saskatchewan at the University of Saskatchewan. virus, but I would say that connection is not yet complete.”

Rasmussen added that monkeypox has many ways of spreading from person to person, but it takes a long time to come into contact with other people to get sick.

According to the World Health Organization, the virus that causes monkeypox is not considered a sexually transmitted infection, or spread through semen and vaginal fluids. However, anyone who is in close contact with someone who has the virus is considered at high risk of infection.

Washing hands with soap is one of the ways to prevent monkeypox.

3. Abstain from sex when you suspect yourself or your partner is infected WHO advice to prevent monkeypox:

Prevent: People who have direct contact with an infected person, including having sex, can get monkeypox. Steps to protect yourself include avoiding skin-to-skin or face-to-face contact with anyone with symptoms, practicing safe sex, keeping hands clean with soap and water or rubbing alcohol on them, and Maintain respiratory protection measures.

Detect and take care of: If people develop a rash, accompanied by a fever or feeling uncomfortable or ill, get tested for monkeypox. If someone is suspected or confirmed to have monkeypox, they should stay isolated until the scabs fall off and abstain from sex, including oral sex. During this period, patients can receive supportive treatment to relieve monkeypox symptoms. Carers of monkeypox patients should use appropriate personal protection measures, including wearing a mask and cleaning touched objects and surfaces.

Report: Any rash-like illness during travel or upon return should be reported immediately to a healthcare professional, including information on all recent travel, sexual and immunization history. smallpox prevention. People and travelers to countries where monkeypox is endemic should avoid contact with sick mammals such as rodents, marsupials, and primates that may harbor monkeypox virus. Do not eat or come into contact with wild animals.

In addition, mass gatherings should be considered, as mass gatherings can be favorable environments for the transmission of monkeypox virus because they involve close, prolonged, and frequent interactions between people. may therefore expose attendees to lesions, bodily fluids, respiratory droplets, and contaminated materials.

While the exact transmission mechanisms of the current monkeypox outbreak are still under investigation, they may differ from the transmission mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2it is important to note that the recommended general precautions for COVID-19 are also expected to largely protect from transmission of monkeypox virus.