Actually, Yes, Monkeypox Is Likely An STD, Scientists Say

New research suggests that viral outbreaks occurring almost exclusively in men who have sex with men are caused by having sex with men.

Three new studies, each published within the past month, concluded that evidence suggests that monkeypox is primarily transmitted between males through sexual intercourse, and not by skin contact that occurs during sex. Many experts and health agencies previously advised that monkeypox is largely spread by skin-to-skin contact, not necessarily in a sexual context.

MONKEYPOX outbreaks occur among gay men 95-99% of the time, so it’s okay to be super explicit, who will direct resources to and help with the community most affected. Thanks https://t.co/TW1Jnc3Ik1

— Monica Gandhi MD, MPH (@MonicaGandhi9) August 19, 2022

Anirudh Hazra, medical director of the University of Chicago Sexual Wellness Clinic, told NBC News: “A growing body of evidence supports that sexual transmission, particularly through seminal fluid, is associated with the current MPX outbreak. Happening.”

“It looks very clear to us that this is an infection that is sexually transmitted most of the time,” said resident physician for global health at Brigham and Women’s Hospital Lao-Tzu Allen-Blitz, according to NBC News.

Infectious disease physician Jeffrey Klausner of the University of Southern California, who has submitted an essay to scientific journals for publication with Allen-Blitz reviewing the evidence that monkeypox is an STD, said there is a lot of evidence that the virus can be identified. points to being sexually transmitted beyond just correlation. with gay men.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), three-quarters of monkeypox cases occur in men between the ages of 18 and 44, which is consistent with the normal age distribution for sexually transmitted infections, Klausner told NBC. He said that most of the lesions on the body of the patients have also been found in the oral and anal areas, which is a sign of sexual transmission. Researchers have also found the virus in semen.

The evidence does not mean that women or heterosexuals cannot be infected with monkeypox, but it does explain why the overwhelming majority of men who have sex with other men. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 94% of cases occur in men who have sex with other men, and that 99% of cases occur in men overall.

Some health experts caution gay and bisexual men against having multiple or anonymous partners, as the behavior puts them at increased risk. The WHO has issued an official recommendation for men not to have sex with anonymous partners or a large number of partners to protect themselves from an increased risk of monkeypox infection. (Related: Man has rotten nose after monkeypox, syphilis and HIV infection)

Still, the CDC has made no such recommendation, nor has it focused its message on monkeypox to treat it as an STD. The agency continues to warn that monkeypox is spread through skin-to-skin contact, despite mounting evidence to the contrary. Some experts have said that public health officials are hesitant to treat the virus as an STD for gay men because of the stigma on the LGBT community.