How is monkeypox transmitted?
Monkeypox or monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted disease. Here 's what the experts say about how the virus is transmitted
There are 92 cases of monkeypox or monkeypox so far confirmed in 12 countries where the virus is not endemic. This was reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), which reiterates that "on the basis of the information currently available, cases have been identified mainly, but not exclusively, among men who have sexual relations with other men (MSM) who they went to primary care and sexual health clinics ”.
So is monkeypox only transmitted through sexual intercourse?
HOW THE MONKEY POOL IS BROUGHT
Given that since we started talking about the first infections , the disease was immediately stigmatized, several experts stressed that "it is not a sexually transmitted disease, but a viral infection".
This means that of course, it can spread during sexual intercourse, but not only. As the Federation of Medical Orders wrote, sexual transmission is not the only mode of transmission of monkeypox.
“The infection – explains the Federation – can derive from close contact with respiratory secretions, skin lesions of an infected person or recently contaminated objects [eg. clothes, towels, sheets, ed .] and the transmission of droplets through respiratory particles [droplet, ed .] usually requires prolonged face-to-face contact, which puts health personnel or family members of active cases at greater risk. […] Transmission can also occur through the placenta from mother to fetus (congenital monkeypox) ”.
The WHO also clarifies that "monkeypox is transmitted from one person to another through close contact with injuries, body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials (such as sheets)".
NO TO STIGMATIZATION OF THE DISEASE
Having been pointed out by several institutions, including the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), that the first cases had been identified among men having sex with other men (MSM), Unaids, the Program of Nations Unite for HIV and AIDS, he urged the media and governments to respond "with an approach based on rights and evidence, which avoids stigma".
"Stigma and blame undermine confidence and the ability to respond effectively during epidemics such as this one," said Matthew Kavanagh, Unaids' deputy executive director. , removing people from health services, hindering efforts to identify cases and encouraging ineffective and punitive measures ”.
Even the medical director of Spallanzani, Andrea Antinori , clarified: “The epidemiology of this disease tells us that it is transmitted through close contacts, sexual ones are by definition, but they are not the only ones possible. Also because the presence of the virus in sperm or genital secretions is being studied. We therefore avoid the identification of this disease with the group of men who have sex with men, because it could be stigmatizing ".
SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICES UNDER PRESSURE
In the UK , which reported the first case of monkeypox, it is now feared that the disease will have a "massive impact" on access to sexual health services. Clinic staff, theGuardian reports, are already forced to isolate themselves if they have come into contact with infected people and in London, where most of the cases identified in the UK have been found, sexual health clinics have barred people from entering. .
"The situation is already putting a strain on the workforce and will have a huge impact if staff have to isolate themselves," said Dr Claire Dewsnap, consultant in genitourinary medicine and president of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV.
"In terms of infection and consequences for individuals, I am not that concerned – clarified Dewsnap – but I am concerned about our ability to maintain good sexual health services and access for all, while managing this new infection".
The doctor has in fact denounced the cuts that have been made to public health in the last ten years and which have inevitably also involved sexual health services for which "adequate funding" would be needed.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/sanita/come-si-trasmette-il-vaiolo-delle-scimmie-monkeypox/ on Mon, 23 May 2022 08:46:36 +0000.