Monkeypox infections
are predominantly driven by sex between men, a study published in the New
England Journal of Medicine has found. Monkeypox, a zoonotic virus that causes
similar but milder symptoms to small pox, has spread to at least 75 countries.
Nearly 16,000 people have been infected with the virus as the WHO has called
monkeypox spread a “global public health emergency”.

The study,
spearheaded by Jennifer Nuzzo of Brown University in Rhode Island, USA, found data
that showed monkeypox infections are occurring “almost exclusively among men
who have sex with men.” Of the 528 cases reviewed as part of the study, 95% are
believed to have been transmitted between men, it found.

Also Read | What is Imvanex, the recommended monkeypox vaccine?

The study took
data between April 27 and June 24. The 528 people included 84 people (16%) in North
and South America and 444 (84%) in Europe, Australia and Israel. All these
cases were among men, including one transgender man. Nighty-eight percent of those
surveyed identified as either gay or bisexual.

The data from the
New England Journal study is in keeping with another study by the British
Health Security Agency. A recent report by the agency showed that there were
699 monkeypox cases for which there was available information and 97% of those
infected were men who had had sex with other men.

Also Read | Monkeypox outbreak: 5 things to know about the disease

New York City,
where monkeypox cases in the United States are largely concentrated, has just
found one woman infected with monkeypox.

Dr Jason Zucker,
infectious disease specialist at Columbia University Department of Medicine,
told NBC News that doctors have found monkeypox patients suffer tremendous
rectal pain, genital pain every time they urinate and throat pain every time
they swallow.

Also Read | The silent spread of Monkeypox: Skin marks likely confused for STIs

Monkeypox cases in
the United States have seen a massive rise over recent weeks. This quickened
disease spread is being attributed to the Pride parades held over June,
according to experts. Experts say vaccination attempts need to be targeted towards
populations most at risk.

According to the
World Health Organization (WHO), monkeypox spreads through close skin-to-skin
contact, including kissing, touching, oral and penetrative sex with someone who
has symptoms. Major symptoms of monkeypox include: rashes with blisters on
face, hands, feet, eyes, mouth and/or genitals, fever, swollen lymph nodes,
headaches, muscle aches and low energy.

The WHO advises
the following to protect oneself from monkeypox infection:

1.   
Isolating
at home if symptomatic and talking to a health worker.

2.   
Avoid
skin-to-skin or face-to-face contact, including sexual contact with someone
exhibiting symptoms.

3.   
Clean
hands, surfaces and regularly-touched objects.

4.   
Wear
a mask if one is in close contact with someone with symptoms.

The WHO maintains
that monkeypox infections can happen regardless of sexuality but the health
agency said gay and bisexual men may be more vulnerable to infections. In its
public health advice for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, the
WHO said stigmatising people because of a disease is never ‘ok’. Anyone can get
or pass on monkeypox regardless of their sexuality.