Why do people think monkeypox is gay

Anyone can be infected by monkeypox. We are worried about everyone's health. Dr Prochazka says it's not clear why there is a higher proportion of cases among gay men. So Why are Gay Men Catching the Disease More Right Now? Because the Monkeypox virus is often caught via close contact, it is more likely to spread through the community in which it was introduced.

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. And this is where we're seeing most of the cases.

It's mostly caught through close physical skin-to-skin contact, which is why it can be spread to sexual partners. A large proportion of monkeypox cases diagnosed in the UK are among gay and bisexual men. Available now on BBC iPlayer. The short answer is no.

What is Monkeypox? What symptoms should I be looking out for?

As monkeypox spreads so

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. Gay and bisexual people were subject to stigma and homophobia following the Aids crisis in the s and s.

How to tell if a rash might be monkeypox. 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.

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.

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. The virus is not a sexually transmitted infection. 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.

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. What is monkeypox and how do you catch it? While anyone can get monkeypox, the current outbreak is overwhelmingly affecting sexually active gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.

But with most confirmed cases among men who have sex with men, doctors are encouraging this group to be particularly alert to symptoms. 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.

Here's what you need to know about monkeypox, including whether it's a sexually transmitted infection, how it's impacting the gay community and how the virus could interact with HIV. We are concerned about monkeypox in general, as a public threat. James Gallagher explains what it is and if we should be worried.

By all accounts, monkeypox is still extremely rare in the UK – just nine cases have been detected. 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.

Monkeypox patients should avoid pet contact. However, as it appears those cases were the result of community transmission, authorities are urging people – particularly gay and bisexual men – to watch out for some key symptoms. 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.

But the person-to-person transmission that has been happening in countries outside western and Central Africa in recent weeks is new.