On stopping the spread of a disease without encouraging the spread of stigma.
In 1958, a pox-like disease was observed in colonies of monkeys that were being maintained for research purposes. In 1970, the first human case of the disease, which had been named “monkeypox,” was recorded. Since then, it has been recognized as a disease that is similar to smallpox but less severe and rarely fatal, at least for the strain of virus responsible for the current outbreak in non-endemic countries. Its symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, and a rash. It spreads through close, skin-to-skin contact, through touching objects or surfaces touched by someone with the disease, or by touching respiratory secretions of someone with monkeypox. The presence of monkeypox DNA in seminal fluid suggests that sexual transmission may also occur. The multiple routes of transmission mean that anyone can get monkeypox. At this moment, in the current outbreak, it is a particular risk for men who have sex with men, with 98 percent of current cases occurring among this group. Monkeypox had been primarily reported among populations in central and western Africa until the current outbreak, which has seen the virus spread globally. More on monkeypox can be found in this helpful explainer from The New York Times.
Read the full piece here.