Money Pox: WHO Advices Men Yo Reduce Ex Partners
In light of the rising number of instances of monkey pox in several countries, the World Health Organization has for the first time made specific advice about sexual behavior for people who are most vulnerable.
Approximately 98 percent of reported instances involved males who had sex with many other men, according to WHO data released on Wednesday.
The WHO requested that this group temporarily restrict the number of sexual partners, think twice before having sex with any new partners, and exchange contact information with any new partners in order to facilitate follow-up, if necessary.
The organization emphasized, however, that anyone can contract the disease.
“In addition to transmission through sexual contact, monkey pox can also be spread in households through close contact between people, such as hugging and kissing, and on contaminated towels or bedding,’’ WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
He added that, the outbreak could be stopped, “if countries, communities and individuals inform themselves, take the risks seriously, and take the steps needed to stop transmission and protect vulnerable groups,’’ Tedros said.
Ghebreyesus said that regarding vaccination against monkey pox, there are still open questions about the effectiveness or who exactly should be vaccinated.
The WHO does not recommend mass vaccination, but “targeted vaccination for those exposed to someone with monkey pox, and for those at high risk of exposure, including health workers, some lab workers, and those with multiple sexual partners.’’
More than 18,000 cases from 78 countries have been reported to the WHO, with more than 70 per cent of infections recorded in European countries, many of which had previously known virtually no monkey pox cases.
On July 23, the WHO declared the monkey pox outbreak an “emergency of international concern.’’
