As the media tries to fearmonger the American people about the recent “surge” in monkeypox (which is just a handful of cases in the US), the CDC is claiming that the most recent surge of monkeypox appears to be spread by men having sex with other men.
European nations have confirmed dozens of cases in what’s become the largest outbreak of monkeypox ever on the Continent, according to the German military. The U.S. and Canada each have at least five confirmed or presumed cases so far. Belgium just introduced a mandatory 21-day quarantine for monkeypox patients.
The WHO convened an emergency meeting this weekend via video conference to look at the virus, identify those most at risk and study its transmission. The organization will hold a second global meeting on monkeypox next week to more thoroughly study the risks and treatments available to fight the virus.
While the virus itself is not a sexually transmitted infection, which are generally spread through semen and vaginal fluids, the most recent surge in cases appears to have been spread among men who have sex with other men, WHO officials said, emphasizing that anyone can contract monkeypox.
“Many diseases can be spread through sexual contact. You could get a cough or a cold through sexual contact, but it doesn’t mean that it’s a sexually transmitted disease,” said Andy Seale, who advises the WHO on HIV, hepatitis and other sexually transmitted infections.