Recently WHO Revealed that the majority of cases of monkeypox are men who have sex with men.
“This is an outbreak that can be stopped if countries, communities and individuals inform themselves, take the risk seriously and take the steps needed to stop transmission and protect vulnerable groups. The best way to do that is to reduce the risk of exposure. That means making safe choices for yourself and others.
“For men who have sex with men, this includes, for the moment, reducing your number of sexual partners, reconsidering sex with new partners and exchanging contact details with any new partners to enable followup, if needed,” WHO Director General, Tedros, said at a media briefing.
Monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted disease. The virus is transmitted through skin-on-skin physical contact.
Monkeypox can also be transmitted through touching items such as towels and sheets that may have been used by a person infected with monkeypox as well as through kissing.
Research is being conducted to determine whether monkeypox can be transmitted through semen, fecal matter and vaginal fluids.
“To catch monkeypox, you need skin-to-skin contact, including during sex, with someone infectious or their contaminated belongings. To reduce the risk of contracting monkeypox: practice safer sex, keep your hands clean.”
“Remember that close physical contact, including sex, may increase your risk of exposure. Having multiple and frequent sexual contacts, including with anonymous partners, may put you more at risk of infection of monkeypox. To protect yourself practice safer sex,” a WHO flyer advises.
CDC advises that people might want to reduce skin-to-skin contact by having sexual intercourse with clothes on or cover the areas where there are rashes.
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