Explained: Is monkeypox getting transmitted sexually?

New Delhi: Monkeypox has been massively spreading across Europe and many cases are being reported among sexually active men. A lot of speculations are going around that whether the disease, which existed in Africa for quite a while is transmitted sexually or not. Besides WHO called for an emergency meeting on the disease spread and it said that the early cases were unusual for three reasons:

• One out of all the cases has no travel history to areas where monkeypox is endemic.
• Most cases are being detected through sexual service health and among men who have sex with men
• The widespread disease across Europe and beyond suggests that the transmission has been going on for some time.

Moreover, we have curated some major pointers about the disease, and here are some of them:

Most cases are found among gay, bisexual men

According to the UK Health Security Agency, among the 20 recent cases in the country, the disease has been mostly seen in men who self-identified themselves as gay, bisexual, or men who have sex with men.

The previous 14 cases were all detected in sexual health clinics and the patients were men between the age group of 20 and 40 years, who self-identified themselves as gay, bisexual, or men who have sex with men.

The UK Health Security Agency has warned ‘gay and bisexual males’ to be aware of strange rashes or lesions and to seek medical help as soon as possible.

Has the disease changed into sexually transmitted one?

It is too early to report whether the disease has changed into a sexually transmitted disease or not, said Alessio D’Amato, health commissioner of the Lazio region in Italy to Reuters. Only three cases have been reported in the country so far.

“The idea that there’s some sort of sexual transmission in this, I think, is a little bit of a stretch,” said Stuart Neil, professor of virology at Kings College London.

The WHO stated that scientists are sequencing the virus from different cases to see if they are linked. The agency will be providing an update soon.

WHO experts report disease may have been ‘spreading for a while’

The WHO regional director for Europe Hans Kluge stated that “as we enter the summer season… with mass gatherings, festivals, and parties, I am concerned that transmission could accelerate.”

“All but one of the recent cases have no relevant travel history to areas where monkeypox is endemic,” he added.

Besides, the transmission could be boosted as “the cases currently being detected are among those engaging in sexual activity”, and many do not understand the symptoms.

Initially, the cases of the disease have been among men who have sex with men and opted for treatment at sexual clinics, Kluge further added, “this suggests that transmission may have been ongoing for some time.”

WHO has been investigating the fact that many cases that were reported involved people identified as gay, bisexual, or men who have sex with men. The official statement has been issued as Belgium and Germany reported their first cases of monkeypox and Italy confirmed three linked cases of the disease.

Belgium’s three confirmed cases of monkeypox were reported on Friday with a link to the huge fetish festival in the port city of Antwerp, organisers of the Darklands Festival said. Besides, French authorities reported that the virus had infected a 29-year-old man living in an area that includes Paris.

Moreover, in Spain, seven confirmed cases have been reported and the authorities are waiting for 23 more confirmations. However, a regional health official said that the authority had recorded 21 confirmed cases in the Madrid region, most linked to a gay-friendly sauna in the heart of the capital.

Concerned About Effects on Other Sexual Infections

Monkeypox can spread if someone comes in close touch with the infected person. The virus can enter the body through broken skin, eyes, noses, and mouths. However, it is yet not been proved whether the infected gets transmitted through sex or not.

Staff in sexual health clinics are already “under enormous pressure,” said Dr Claire Dewsnap, a specialist in genitourinary medicine and president of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, and monkeypox is enhancing the problem, the BBC reported.

“It’s already stretching the workforce,” Dr. Dewsnap said, “and it’ll have a huge impact if staff have to isolate if they’re in close contact with someone who’s infected.”

“I am concerned about the impact on sexual health access in general.”