Why is monkey pox more prevelant in the gay community

Those who are most at risk after coming into contact with a confirmed monkeypox case are urged to isolate at home for up to three weeks. Scientists are investigating whether the infection was introduced via a combination of single transmissions or, whether so-called "super-spreader" events, such as a festival, may have resulted in more people catching it at one time.

Gay and bisexual people were subject to stigma and homophobia following the Aids crisis in the s and s. It's mostly caught through close physical skin-to-skin contact, which is why it can be spread to sexual partners. While anyone can get monkeypox, the current outbreak is overwhelmingly affecting sexually active gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.

Available now on BBC iPlayer. We are concerned about monkeypox in general, as a public threat. Dr Prochazka says it's not clear why there is a higher proportion of cases among gay men. Jaime Garcia-Iglesias, a sociologist at the University of Edinburgh who has studied how Aids and Covid affected certain communities, says there's a "significant risk" that the stigma "comes to the surface again" and might stop people from seeking the help they need.

I think we are still at that stage where we can do that and really respond to this". Regardless of sexual orientation, the main factor of propagation remains the multiplicity of sexual partners. Monkeypox: Why are gay and bisexual men more affected? As it can take three weeks for symptoms to appear, it's likely the number of diagnosed cases will grow.

Officials noted Monday that most of the people affected reported some level. If you have a new and unusual sore or rash it's advised that you contact your local sexual-health clinic, but don't turn up for an in-person appointment unannounced. He acknowledges the "delicate balance between achieving freedom of choice and freedom of infection" and says it's important people are well-equipped to make their own decisions.

But the person-to-person transmission that has been happening in countries outside western and Central Africa in recent weeks is new. The virus is not a sexually transmitted infection. Alex Sparrowhawk, from the trust's health improvement team, says they're worried people might mistakenly regard monkeypox as a so-called gay disease and says everyone needs to be aware of the signs and symptoms.

A large proportion of monkeypox cases diagnosed in the UK are among gay and bisexual men. We are worried about everyone's health. Doctors and public-health experts have spoken to the BBC about the "delicate balance" of keeping those currently most at risk informed, without stigmatising them or letting others become complacent.

If you don't have any symptoms and you're due to attend a regular sexual-health check-up, you're urged to go ahead as planned. As monkeypox is often caught through direct contact, once it's introduced to a community, it is more likely to spread through that community among those who are in close contact with each other - for example, within a household or among sexual partners.

What is Monkeypox? Most infections clear up on their own without any treatment but if you think you have monkeypox you're still urged to tell your doctor. Condoms protect against sexually transmitted infections, but they do not prevent monkeypox being transmitted.

Although some monkeypox patients have mild infections that may be missed or misdiagnosed, others have very characteristic rashes and agonizing pains that require hospitalization for pain treatment. And this is where we're seeing most of the cases. There is a theory that a return of demand for international travel since Covid lockdowns were eased could have played a part in the initial spread.

Dr Prochazka says as case numbers are so small, experts aren't advising people to change personal behaviour but to be "hyper-vigilant. Dr Prochazka says another possibility is that the proactive engagement of gay men with sexual-health services may have led to more cases being diagnosed.

Anyone can get monkeypox, but in the latest outbreak, the virus is predominantly spreading among gay and bisexual men. But with most confirmed cases among men who have sex with men, doctors are encouraging this group to be particularly alert to symptoms. If many people outside the MSM community had monkeypox, more would have shown up in the statistics by now.

He says: "It just happens that the infection appears to have been introduced in networks of gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men. Mr Sparrowhawk says people shouldn't be overly worried but if someone isn't feeling well and develops symptoms such as "fever, headache, swollen lymph glands and a rash" they should get in touch with their clinic for further advice.

Dr Prochazka says when a new threat enters a network of people "we do our best to suppress it. Dating apps, such as Grindr, are also advising users about what to look out for. Doctors and charities are keen to ensure this isn't repeated with monkeypox and are concerned it could also prevent others from realising they might have the virus.