Monkeypox Focused on Gay Community but Not Fueled by Prides, WHO Says
WHO) has told Newsweek.Monkeypox continues to spread rapidly across the globe, with 15,848 cases confirmed as of July 21, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).A WHO spokesperson has told Newsweek that in newly affected countries, the virus continues to be concentrated "among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men who have had recent sexual contact with a new partner or partners."The spokesperson said there is now more data on the virus, and how it is spreading within this community.WHO said that "it might also be of interest to note" that so far in the outbreak, there have been no cases reported in other parts of the LGBTQI+ community, "including, for example among the lesbian community.""This is interesting given the large number of Pride festivals held in recent months that have involved casual interpersonal contact in the context of large groups," the spokesperson said.WHO said that "a limited number of cases" have also been recorded in women and children in newly affected countries "although this has not yet led to the outbreak taking hold in new populations.""Data tells us that close and prolonged intimate contact between men, including sexual activity, continues to play a significant role in transmitting monkeypox.
We know that some men who have sex with men are connected to sexual networks that extend across different cities and countries.
