The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared monkeypox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, which is the highest level of alert (PHEIC). There have been four cases of the virus so far documented in India, one of the approximately 70 nations where it has spread.
The WHO has now outlined which populations are more susceptible to monkeypox and why as part of its Science in 5 series for the disease on YouTube.
According to Andy Seale, advisor, HIV, Hepatitis and STI Programmes, WHO, monkeypox is now affecting populations of all ages and socioeconomic levels in previously impacted nations, mostly in West Africa.
Mr. Seale continued, saying that instances are “primarily focused on men” in nations where the monkeypox virus is a recent problem. According to Mr. Seale, the majority of those infected with the virus have been determined to be gay and bisexual men who have had sex with other men.
The advisor also mentioned that there have been a few occurrences documented in women and children, though they are rare. Mr. Seale has stressed, though, that anyone who comes into contact with the virus can become infected.
Mr. Seale stated that there are various ways for the virus to be transmitted in order to explain the higher vulnerability of the specific group. These include kissing, handling contaminated objects like bed linen, or skin-to-skin contact. In the case of this outbreak, “what we know and what the evidence shows us is that sexual networks among communities of gay, bisexual, and other males who have sex with men have had a role in propagating the virus,” noted Mr. Seale.
He continued by saying that early on in the pandemic, it appeared that foreign travel helped the monkeypox virus spread.
Mr. Seale urged us not to stigmatize or assign blame for the disease’s spread to any one group of people or community. According to him, most monkeypox patients will experience a brief and moderate infection, but some may experience a severe case that necessitates hospitalization.
