“The only thing I know is that it is about sores on the body, which are appearing on gays”.
The previous expression issued by the Mexican construction worker Jose Zabala, of 24 years, could be describing in a few words, the only “clear data” and wrong, that many New Yorkers have about the outbreak of monkey pox that appeared in the Big Apple last May.
Therefore, the New York City Department of Health (DOHMH) has put in bold and highlighted in its official communications that: “Anyone can contract and spread monkeypox.”
Although in parallel, it also stands out that the confirmed cases have spread, at least until now, mostly in one group: homosexuals, bisexuals and other men who have sex with men (MSM).
In addition, the official recommendation of the City is that “If you are a man who has had intimate relationships with men and has had several sexual or anonymous partners, your probability of exposure is high.”
To date, this is the only group that applies for receive the available vaccines.
! Let’s clarify! The virus does not discriminate
In conclusion, until this week through the testing and tracking actions, it is specified that the virus has not stopped multiplying. The large proportion of laboratory-confirmed cases have been clearly identified as MSM, but the “popular and confused” versions of who and how infections occur have also increased.
In this sense, Carlos Cubas, Director of Dissemination and Training of the DOHMH’s Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Program, was blunt in clarifying that it is not a sexually transmitted disease, much less an infection related exclusively to the ‘ gay’.
“I don’t know has wanted to stigmatize any specific group. We know from experience that when these types of labels are attached to an infection, many groups distance themselves from the possibility of receiving medical attention, precisely for fear of that stigma”, reinforced the public health expert.
According to official DOHMH data, until 21 July, almost 1,300 people in the city have tested positive for orthopoxvirus (monkeypox) in all five boroughs.
These confirmed cases are on the rise. And there are likely to be far more undiagnosed infections.
Already one child and several women have been positive in the weaning, but even so, the official statistical reports put on the balance, very strongly, that the spread has mainly affected men who have sexual relations with men.
“There is a statistical factor of weight. That is very clear. But, we reiterate that this does not mean that there are many more people from other groups infected. Nor does it mean that it is a disease exclusive to a group with a specific gender identity or expression. We want to highlight that”, underlined Cubas.
Continuous physical contact, with an infected person, is the main point of alert handled by the scientific community. Obviously, the sexual act is included in the ways in which people can become infected. But it is not the only one.
“Now that we are in the summer and people tend to wear less clothes, there could be a higher level of exposure in places of high concentration where people touch. The important thing is that if people feel sick, with some symptoms, they isolate themselves immediately and consult their medical provider,” said the City spokesperson.
Gustavo Morales of the Oasis Wellness Center in NYC: “Existing conversations about this infection have already created a stigma against our LGBTQ+ community.” (Photo: F. Martínez) It’s too late: “A stigma was created”
At this time, beyond the concerns that we could be facing a new emergency of public health, the activists of the LGBTQ+ communities, have raised several manifestos against the approach that the first communications of the health authorities about this infection have had.
In this direction, the spokesman for the Oasis Wellness Center pointed out in Manhattan, a community organization that offers health support to Latinos from the LGBTQ+ community.
“I think the conversation we should have today is to diversify the message so that all New Yorkers assume that they are also in risk. So far, what we have heard is a vocabulary very similar to that of the years 80 with HIV-AIDS, where associates only a specific population with a disease”, Morales points out.
For the activist, this message is the breeding ground for a wave of discrimination and attacks on groups that have already been stigmatized and rejected by years.
Furthermore, in his opinion, it is a message that will not help overcome the possibility that the virus will continue to spread and become endemic.
“When you emphasize that the focus of contagion appeared in a group, and that it is also associated with very specific sexual practices, an evident misinformation is generated. From the messages we have heard, it appears that monkeypox is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). And, scientifically, it has already been clarified that it is not,” asserts the activist.
In Morales’ opinion, it is already too late, since a strong stigma has already been generated around monkeypox. So much so, that vaccines are generally only available to men who have had multiple sexual partners with other men.
“That, in itself, has a great stigmatizing power, which spreads the false idea that we are at the forefront of an evil, which only affects one group because of the way they practice their sexuality”, he concluded.
Activist Robert González ponders as an “error” that this virus is associated with a specific sexual practice because it is a belief that does not help stop the spread (Photo: F. Martínez)They are the ones who they report it
There are other opinions about how in New York and in almost the whole world, the narrative about the simian virus has been treated. Robert González, a Venezuelan activist who 17 years has fought for the rights LGBTQIA of the Hispanic communities in New York, ponders that the registration of cases could “only look much higher”, in members of this population segment, simply because “they are the ones who most dare to report it and seek more information.”
“There is a key element in this. When the majority of the population feels exempt from being infected, because they assume that the only risk route is having sexual relations with people of the same sex, it is an element that helps the spread to be triggered, “concludes González.
In this sense, Dr. Ali Khan, a former official of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) who worked on previous outbreaks of this type of smallpox in Congo, detailed to the national media that around 39% of infections are transmitted through sexual contact.
“The fact that the outbreak concentrate more among men who have sex with men provides a good opportunity for prevention actions within this group, which has been proactive in obtaining information and queuing for vaccines, “he said.
However, the public health expert spoke of the need to remember loudly that people who do not belong to this group are at risk, and should be concerned, not panicked.
In New York, due to limited supply of JYNNEOS™ vaccine , eligibility during this phase has been restricted to gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men and transgender, gender non-conforming or non-binary people of 17 years and older who have had multiple or anonymous sexual partners in the past 14 days.
Until this week, the DOHMH had administered 17, vaccinations to eligible groups.
“Soon we will be expanding the vaccination days. The most important message at this time is for those who feel sick or suspect they have been infected: Seek help through all available means of the City and isolate yourselves“.
In numbers: X-ray of infections
- 21. 4% of confirmed cases through the second week of July were people of Hispanic origin, although the largest Affected ethnic group are whites: 25%
- The monkeypox virus is most often spread through direct contact with the rash or sores of someone who has the virus.
- It can also be spread through contact with clothing, bedding, and other items used by a person with monkeypox, or by respiratory droplets that can be transmitted through prolonged face-to-face contact.
- Transmission can occur during sexual intercourse or other intimate activities, including: Oral, anal and vaginal sex, hugs, kisses, pampering and massages.
- If you or your partners are sick, especially if you or they have a new or unexpected rash or sore, do not have sex or close physical contact. Avoid clubs, parties, or gatherings until you have spoken with a health care provider.
- Wash your hands, sex toys and bedding before and after having sexual intercourse or other intimate activities.
- Gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men and/or transgender, gender non-conforming or gender non-binary
- Have had multiple or anonymous sexual partners in the last 14 days
- People who have been informed by the Department of Health that they are a close contact of someone with monkeypox.
- Through the portal https://www1.nyc.gov/ site/doh/health/health-topics/monkeypox.page the DOHMH offers all the details in Spanish of the resources available to face a possible monkeypox infection.
- If you want updated information or have doubts about dealing with an alleged contagion by this virus, write a text message with the word Monkeypox ESP to 692-512
- 50.7% of those who tested positive for monkeypox in NYC have been adult males between 30 Y 39 years.
- 97.7% of confirmed infected have been men.
- 54.1% of all test positives are Manhattan residents, followed by a 21.6% of Brooklyn and 12.4% in Queens.
How is it transmitted? 20220609
At the moment, it is unknown whether monkeypox can spread through saliva, semen or vaginal fluids.
How can I prevent it?
To reduce the possibility of contracting and spreading monkeypox, based on DOHMH guidelines:
- If you decide to have sex while you are sick, avoid kissing and any another type of face-to-face contact. Also, cover all sores with sealed clothing or bandages. This may help reduce – but not eliminate – the risk of transmission.
Who is now eligible for the vaccine?
DOHMH clarifies that eligibility for vaccination against this infection may change as the outbreak progresses and depending on the supply of vaccines. Until this week only people older than can request appointments years:
Free resources in NYC:
134039
- If you think you have symptoms of monkeypox, call your health care provider right away. If you do not have a provider, please call 150 or look for the New York City Health Map at nyc.gov/health/map.