Last Updated on May 27, 2022 by Neelam Singh
Quick Take
Various posts shared on social media platforms claims that Monkeypox is a disease of gay men only that spread amongst men who engage in sexual relations with other men. We fact-checked and found this claim to be False.
The Claim
A social media post reads, “Monkey Pox is only being spread in the gay community. Just the facts. #stopthefear.”
Similar posts can be seen here, here, here and here.
Fact Check
What is monkeypox?
According to the WHO, “Monkeypox is a viral zoonosis (a virus transmitted to humans from animals) with symptoms similar to those seen in the past in smallpox patients, although it is clinically less severe. Clinically, the symptoms are fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes. It may also lead to a range of medical complications. It is usually a self-limited disease with symptoms lasting 2 to 4 weeks. Severe cases can occur. The case fatality ratio has been around 3–6% in recent times.”
How does monkeypox spread?
It is an infection that spreads through direct contact, droplets, or fomites. It means that it is transmitted to humans through close contact with an infected person or animal or material contaminated with the virus. That means not just gay men but any person who is in close contact with the infected person or fomites can get infected.
Can Monkeypox spread only through homosexual sex amongst men?
No. Monkeypox is considered a viral infection and not an STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease). WHO states that “cases have mainly but not exclusively been identified amongst men who have sex with men (MSM).”
NHS states, “While it can be transmitted through close contact during sex, it can also be spread by touching material used by an infected person, their coughs and sneezes, or other skin to skin contact.”
Therefore, the claim is false as neither it is a sexually transmitted disease nor does it spread exclusively between men who have sexual contact with men.
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