This does not mean that the virus becomes a sexually transmitted disease, but officials say that one of the main ways monkeypox is currently prevalent is prolonged skin-to-skin contact.
According to the CDC, the risk of monkeypox is low at this time, but public health experts say there is still something they can do to protect themselves, especially if they are in a pool of high-risk people.
Here’s what you need to know:
How monkeypox spreads
The virus usually causes a rash with lesions that can be very painful. Pain may be enough to send some people to the hospital, but it seems rare.
According to the CDC, the rash often begins on the face and spreads to other parts of the body. Some people have a fever at first.
People with monkeypox can always give the virus to others until the rash has healed, the scab has fallen, and a fresh layer of skin has formed on the affected area.
The virus is transmitted primarily through close physical skin-to-skin contact, but when touching objects such as sheets and towels that may have been used by people with monkeypox, or as follows: It can also be spread by close face-to-face interactions. kiss.
This occurrence is a little different
Recent outbreaks appear to be a little different, according to Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, Head of HIV / AIDS Prevention at the CDC.
Monkeypox is not considered a sexually transmitted disease, but most people with monkeypox in the United States have recently reported some sexual activity, he said on Monday. This includes not only oral sex, but also osmotic encounters.
“Some people have rashes on their entire body or on different parts of the body, but many have genital or anal lesions as the first signs of illness,” said Dascalakis. “Such a thing speaks to that close, long-term contact.”
He said the virus could theoretically be transmitted via respiratory droplets, but the CDC has not seen it happen in this outbreak.
“I can’t prove how efficient it is. It doesn’t seem to be very efficient. Therefore, it’s more skin-to-skin contact than face-to-face contact.
“But in the harm reduction debate, it’s very important to say what we know and what we don’t know,” said Dascalakis. “It’s important to know that it’s not impossible to infect monkeypox that way, so that you can actually adjust your behavior as needed.”
Party vs bar
Scientists are still studying how monkeypox spreads in this outbreak, but after, for example, passing someone, giving a hug, or brushing a skin lesion, people get sick. It doesn’t seem to be.
“In the case of a hug that doesn’t necessarily include a shirt, there is a theoretical risk of getting infected there, but the risk is low because that’s not what we’re hearing about what’s happening in our case. There is a risk that is not zero. “
Rather, it is the longer contacts that now seem most likely responsible. “When asked for the length of’length’, I can’t answer that question, but it seems that this may not have been communicated with a light brush,” said Dascala Squis.
A large dance party that attracts thousands of men and lasts into the nights and weekends, circuit parties can be one way the virus spreads. Dancing shirtless at a well-ventilated party without interacting with people with visible lesions is probably a low risk. If there is an after party that leads to sex, it’s much more dangerous.
According to the CDC, monkeypox can be more likely to spread in confined spaces such as back rooms, saunas, and sex clubs, and at sex parties where you often keep in touch anonymously with multiple partners.
The typical gay bar where people hang out is different.
“Social is part of what [LGBTQ people] conduct. So I don’t think we should stop. It’s important to know how monkeypox is transmitted, and you know your own risks and how to mitigate them, “said Dascalakis.
How to protect yourself
There are vaccines to prevent monkeypox, but their demand far exceeds the supply.
Obviously, one of the things people can do to protect themselves until supply improves is to avoid contact with people. Infected, especially kiss-like face-to-face contact.
“In line with our harm reduction guidance, thinking about reducing the number of partners and trying to avoid anonymous contacts is a wise result in terms of reducing the risk of exposure,” said Dascalakis. Says.
According to the CDC, after covering or after covering the area with the rash, you want to wear clothes and have sex to reduce contact with the skin as much as possible.
Officials also say keep in mind that their advice may change as scientists learn more. It may change when monkeypox begins to spread through other contacts, such as when people live closely in places like homeless shelters, or when people are doing full contact sports.
“Most importantly, I think it’s good to be aware of these things and worry to some extent, but it’s not paralysis,” said Dascalakis. “Realistically, any kind of skin-to-skin contact can theoretically infect monkeypox, but what we are seeing is that it requires a little effort. ”
Source: www.cnn.com
