'Monkeypox Myths & Facts: Spread is not limited to Gay community

Cases of monkeypox have been found in a significant number of men who are bisexual or gay. The WHO has also specifically advised gay men not to have sex with more than one partner. Some such reports have been seen in the media, which has made it a narrative that it is spreading due to homosexuality and it is a Gay Disease. This has created a threat of stigmatization of homosexual people in the society. Whereas monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted disease. It can happen to anyone. It spreads through person to person close contact.

According to WHO, the disease spreads through close physical contact with a person suffering from monkeypox. Its spread is not limited to homosexual men. It is not a Gay Disease.

UNAIDS has urged media outlets, the government and communities that the stigma associated with it needs to be eliminated.

Because most cases in the UK have been found in gay and bisexual men, there is a misconception in society that Monkeypox is a disease of gay people. The same was said about HIV AIDS earlier. When cases of HIV AIDS started to appear in the world, the stigma spread that it spreads more among sex workers and homosexual communities. Whereas the fact was that it can happen to anyone because of unprotected sex with multiple partners.

Why monkeypox is spreading rapidly among homosexuals?

According to experts, the reason for the more cases of monkeypox in gay men may be that the virus has spread to one homosexual network, and from there the virus spreads to everyone due to close contacts.

Let us tell you that in the UK and US, people of the gay community live in great solidarity, people in many gay clubs meet and have parties. Maybe it spread to so many people through a super spreader event.

How to protect yourself?

Let us tell you that monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted disease. It can be spread through close physical contact. Such as by sharing a bed with a person suffering from monkeypox or by skin-to-skin contact. That's why condoms can't protect against it.

It requires that you be careful and contact as few people as possible. Try to maintain a certain physical distance with the other person.

If you have fever, headache, swollen lymph glands, rashes, then contact the doctor immediately and keep distance from everyone.

Even if you do not have any symptoms and you have been in contact with multiple partners, then do get your regular sexual health checkup done.

Isolating a person with symptoms for 3 weeks is recommended in case of monkeypox.

Currently, only chickenpox medicines are being given for the treatment of monkeypox. How successful it is in Ace, it remains to be seen.

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