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It has been said over and over: monkeypox is a contagious disease. It is transmitted more particularly among homosexual men who exhibit certain risky behaviors. If this category of person is invited to be vigilant vis-à-vis this virus, it is important to remember that it is not a sexually transmitted infection (STI) and that it can affect anyone. who.
Prevention messages about monkeypox specifically call on homosexual or bisexual men to be vigilant about the disease and its symptoms. Like the one issued by the ECDC, the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention which is particularly aimed at “ men who have sex with other men who engage in casual sex or have multiple sex partners”.
It is not a sexually transmitted infection
This category of people is particularly invited to be careful because of risky practices to which they can indulge more frequently than the general population: multi-partners, close contacts, unfollow-up relationships, etc.
“But monkeypox is not the new AIDS, nor is it a sexually transmitted infection. There is no reason to stigmatize certain people because of their sexual orientation” recalls Dr Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor and medical director of Doctissimo. “There have been clusters in the gay community, but monkeypox can infect a heterosexual person who follows the same risky practices. Beware of homophobic abuses” emphasizes the doctor again.
Do not stigmatize a category of the population
In addition to these excesses, there is a risk of seeing sick people fleeing health centers and other places of care to avoid suffering any discrimination. This would result in missing cases of the disease, which is notifiable.
In the UK, the discourse is different. The content of the message, broadcast in strategic locations, is as follows: “Anyone can get monkeypox. Currently, most cases involve men who are gay, bisexual or have sex with men. It is therefore particularly important to be aware of the symptoms if you belong to these groups. Contact a sexual health clinic if you have a rash with blisters and have been either:
- in close contact, including sexual contact, with someone who has or may have monkeypox (even if they have not yet been tested) within the last 3 weeks
- in West or Central Africa in the last 3 weeks”.
A pragmatic way of doing prevention without stigmatizing a certain part of the population.