Why is monkeypox being detected among gay and bisexual men? The WHO says symptoms could last from two to four weeks. At this stage, you might have a fever, a headache, swelling of the lymph nodes, aches and pains and a general lack of energy.īetween one and three days after the onset of fever, you might develop rashes or legions on your body. The infection is generally divided into two stages – the invasion period can last up to five days. The WHO says the incubation period for monkeypox is usually six to 13 days, but it can range from five to 21 days. If you’ve recently developed unusual rashes or legion on any part of your body – especially the genitalia – you could have monkeypox, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). 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.
We do know that this particular funny cluster of monkeypox has behaved unusually, differently than we would expect it to, but it hasn’t been identified as an STI and we shouldn’t see it that way.” What symptoms should I be looking out for?īy all accounts, monkeypox is still extremely rare in the UK – just nine cases have been detected. “We don’t want the idea that this is an STI to stick because that certainly hasn’t been proven. It can be potentially harmful and it can prevent people from coming forward with symptoms because they can think that having an STI is something to be afraid or guilty of.”ĭr Dewsnap says it’s vital we challenge those misconceptions about monkeypox and the current outbreak in the UK and Europe. “As we know, talking about STIs is stigmatising, and that’s worse in some populations than others. Dr Dewsnap says the notion is “potentially harmful”. The misconception that monkeypox is an STI is already spreading rapidly, which can further stigmatise already affected communities. Is there a risk that the monkeypox conversation could stigmatise the LGBTQ+ community? Naturally, that means a person could still contract the virus while having sex with somebody who’s carrying it, but that doesn’t make it a sexually transmitted infection. “We need to be very careful to remember that it’s a virus that’s spread through close contact and the vast majority of monkeypox cases have been in the heterosexual community in Africa.”Īccording to the WHO, it is not yet known if monkeypox can be passed on directly through sex – the organisation says more studies are needed to understand the risk – but it’s likely that it’s simply passed on through close contact.
“It’s very common for a gay man who’s been sexually active with a new partner to think, ‘I’ve got a funny rash, it could be syphilis, it could be herpes, I’ll go to my clinic.’ So, put down your phone and follow this advice and you, too, could take that hot guy home from the bar.“One thing that we don’t know for certain yet is whether the reason we’re seeing it in gay men is because they’re going to clinics,” Dr Dewsnap tells PinkNews. Well, the answer should be YOU you should have the time because this historic method to hook up is way more thrilling and rewarding than a few taps on your smartphone while you lounge on your couch watching old episodes of Drag Race. It’s easy to drop a pin at your location and wait for a guy to come over, right? Who’s got the time and money to drop $14 on a vodka soda and perch yourself in a bar while you attempt to make eyes at anyone you can? Not only are gay bars and clubs in crisis, closing left, right, and center, but the art of hooking up has diminished. In my mind, everyone would be eye-fucking each other until, with the nod of a head, you’d be off with someone and go and get head (see what I did there?).Īdmittedly, before the advent of hookup apps, when I was a baby gay first on the scene, things were a little like that, just without the great lighting, flattering camera angles, and it wasn’t being broadcast on Showtime. Perhaps watching Queer as Folk when I was a young and impressionable teenager wasn’t the best gauge of accuracy for how venturing out onto the gay scene would be.