Gay Men and Mpox - Keep Yourself Safe With This Guide
Recent outbreaks in North America, Europe, Israel, the United Kingdom, and Australia of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, a rare pox virus typically carried by rodents in Central and Western Africa, have made international headlines.
Extensive media coverage continues to report on this public health issue. These media outlets report that most cases are associated with gay and bisexual men and men who have sex with men (MSM). As a result of this reporting, several LGBTQIA+ communities, both locally and globally, have expressed concern.
While research suggests that sex between men was a significant contributor to the global outbreak, this comes with a warning. Men who have sex with men are not the only ones at risk of getting mpox.
The risk of infection extends to anyone who has close contact with someone infected.
The following piece provides information on mpox, how it spreads, and how to protect yourself and others from it.
Please share it amongst your networks and communities. This way, everyone can be more informed and make healthy decisions.
What is Mpox?
Mpox is a rare and little-known disease most prevalent in West or Central Africa.
It develops after exposure to the MPX virus, which belongs to the same family of viruses that cause smallpox. However, it is much less severe and, according to experts, has few chances of circulating.
The virus has two main strains, one from west Africa and one from central Africa. The milder strain from West Africa is expanding internationally in Europe, the UK, the US, Canada, and Australia.
What are the Symptoms of Mpox?
If you expose yourself to someone with mpox, you could develop symptoms up to 21 days later.
According to the WHO, most people who have mpox will develop a rash. These can appear as pimples or blisters and may be itchy and painful. Generally, the rash appears on the face, hands, and soles of feet but can be found anywhere on the body.
In addition to the mouth and throat, you can find the virus on the genitals, such as in the vagina and anus. Lesions span from a few to thousands for some infected people.
Until a new layer of skin forms underneath the crusted-over rash, the scabs fall off, and the rash crusts over, the infection remains contagious. This process may take several weeks, during which you should isolate yourself from others to safeguard them from becoming infected.
Other symptoms include:
Fever
Swollen lymph nodes
Headaches
Muscle aches
Low energy
Back pain
You might experience all or only a few of these symptoms.
Often, mild symptoms are experienced by some people, while those with more severe illnesses may need hospital care. It is crucial for people who have symptoms of mpox or have been in contact with someone who has it to seek medical attention.
How Do You Get Mpox?
Throughout the world, mpox transmits through being close to infected people (face-to-face, skin-to-skin, mouth-to-mouth, and mouth-to-skin), such as through kissing and sexual contact. All lesions on a person are infectious until they have crusted over, the scabs have fallen off, and a new layer of skin has developed beneath.
Humans can also contract the mpox virus by touching contaminated objects, surfaces, clothing, bedding, towels, or electronics. Someone can become infected by touching these items. The virus is also transmittable by inhaling skin flakes, bedding, or towels.
Infections in the mouth can spread to others through oral ulcers, lesions, sores, and even through respiratory droplets and possibly short-range aerosols.
How Can You Help Stop the Outbreak?
Develop a better understanding of mpox and how it affects your community.
Share only trustworthy, reliable, evidence-based information that is not stigmatizing or misleading.
Communicate openly with others, remain calm, and care for your mental health.
Help end the narrative fueling stigma. It is never acceptable to stigmatize, blame, or shame people because of a disease. As well as making it challenging to end outbreaks, stigma can prevent people from accessing services. If you experience any mpox symptoms, don't let fear of judgment keep you from seeking help.
What Can You Do If You Get Mpox and Want to Prevent Spreading It?
Until you are no longer infectious, you should self-isolate if you have monkeypox.
Your healthcare provider can assist you in deciding if you are hospitalized or homebound. Depending on your symptoms, the decision will focus on minimizing the risk of infecting those you share your home with. Also, whether you have risk factors that make you susceptible to more severe symptoms and whether you minimize the chance of infecting others within your immediate family.
If You Test Positive for Mpox, What Should You Do?
In addition to providing advice regarding how to take care of yourself, your health care provider will advise you on whether you should recover at home or in a hospital.
Also, according to the WHO:
Drink lots of fluids, eat a healthy diet, and get enough sleep.
If necessary, take medication to treat pain and fever.
If you have a rash, take care of it as follows: avoid scratching; keep lesions dry and uncovered; use sterilized water/antiseptic to clean the rash; fill a warm bath with baking soda or Epsom salts to flush out the lesions. If your symptoms worsen, contact your health care provider immediately.
You shouldn't be ashamed of having mpox or being exposed to it.
Anyone can contract the virus. However, you might want to consider telling any close friend or family member who has had contact with you in the past 21 days about your diagnosis. In so doing, they can be on the lookout for any symptoms that may arise.
Your doctor, health care provider, or therapist may be able to assist you in passing the information anonymously if you are not comfortable doing so yourself.
Can You Get Mpox Through Sex?
Any close contact with someone infectious can spread mpox, including kissing, touching, oral, and penetrative vaginal or anal sex.
If you have a new and unusual rash, ensure you get it checked for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and monkeypox before engaging in sexual activity. In addition to the mouth, throat, genitals, vagina, and anus/anal areas, there are other places where the rash may appear that are more difficult to see.
Why is Mpox High Among Gay, Bisexual Men, and Men Who Have Sex With Men?
Men who have sex with men are not the only communities at risk of mpox.
Anyone can contract an infectious disease if they are in close contact with someone infected. However, recent data indicate that sexual encounters between men who have sex with men may contribute to the transmission of mpox.
A dynamic network of sexual connections can extend over several cities and countries for men who have sex with men. As a result, this may explain the current increase in cases in these communities.
Advocates and experts urge gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men to be alert to symptoms and take precautions to prevent the virus from spreading.
There is a strong link between gay, bisexual, and other sex communities and sexual health services. The recent outbreak shows this, as reported cases increase among men coming forward for testing at sexual health clinics.
As part of their medical care or prevention for HIV infection, men taking antiretrovirals are also regularly screened for sexually transmitted infections. This regular contact with health services may explain the reported mpox cases within the community.
Are HIV-Positive Individuals More Susceptible to Mpox?
This question is the topic of the ongoing investigation to gain a deeper understanding.
However, what is known is that an individual with an underlying immune deficiency may be more susceptible to the effects of mpox. However, there have been no reports of worse health outcomes for HIV-positive men who have developed mpox in this outbreak.
If a person knows their HIV status and has access to and uses treatment properly, they may be able to suppress the virus. Due to the treatment, their immune systems may be less vulnerable to infection than if they did not receive treatment.
How Can I Find Out More About Mpox?
If you are interested in learning more, please contact a trustworthy organization in your country. You can also learn about monkeypox by visiting the WHO, the CDC, and the NHS.
Many LGBTQIA+ organizations worldwide provide support and information to gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men.
These organizations include HIV support groups and offer strong leadership to prevent the spread of mpox.
A key component of their work is addressing stigma and discrimination and sharing information. Additionally, get the latest updates from your local authorities and community sources.
Most Important Message About Mpox
The connection between the mpox virus and gay men is complicated, and there is still much we don't know about the virus. But, you can protect yourself by doing a few things.
First, avoid close contact with people who have mpox.
Second, get vaccinated against mpox if you can. A vaccination is available, but it is not 100% effective. If you are still unsure about whether or not getting the mpox vaccine is the right thing for you, please speak with your doctor or another health care provider.
Third, if you get infected, self-isolate and contact your medical professional. Remember, it can take up to 21 days for symptoms to appear.
Finally, I recommend anyone seek regular screenings for sexually transmitted infections. During this visit, discuss with your healthcare provider whether taking PrEP could benefit you if you are sexually active with multiple partners.
