As public health officials in Europe and North America scramble to contain a growing outbreak of monkeypox, a new study suggests that the disease may be flying under the radar.
There are some cases of monkeypox that don't match the descriptions.
In a study of 54 patients from four sexual health centers in London in May, it was found that the symptoms of monkeypox seem to be less severe in recent cases.
The patients, all identifying as men who have sex with men, had symptoms and developed a rash, though the group had much higher rates of skin lesions in genital and anal areas.
More than a third of the patients in London had skin problems that were only in the genital or anal area.
A quarter of the patients tested positive for both gonorrhea and the monkeypox at the same time, suggesting that the virus was transmitted through close contact during sex.
The finding might not reflect transmission in the wider population and could be related to all the researchers being sexual health providers.
Case definitions have been updated. Monkeypox can be characterized by a variety of symptoms including a rash on the face and limbs, as well as a body ache and fatigue. Many of the cases being reported in the U.S., UK and Europe are different. Some patients are reported to have had just one or two pox and some portions report no symptoms at all. He urged clinicians and patients to be vigilant to prevent misdiagnoses, as it is possible the infections may mimic common STDs.
One in six. The number of patients involved in the study would not have met the criteria for a probable monkeypox case. According to Girometti, guidelines should be reviewed in light of what clinicians are seeing.
After multiple cases of monkeypox were found in Europe and North America in May, the rest of the world began to pay attention to the disease. It alarmed experts and caused governments to act to contain the outbreak. Most of the vaccines and treatments for monkeypox were developed for its close viral cousin, smallpox. The countries where the disease is endemic have yet to receive any vaccine. States with high rates of infections and large numbers of people at risk of severe disease are being prioritized by the U.S. for its vaccine drive. The current strategy recommends anyone with a confirmed or suspected exposure, including people who have had close physical contact with someone diagnosed with monkeypox, people who know their sexual partner was diagnosed and men who have sex with men who have recently had multiple sex partners. Gay and bisexual men who have sex with men are the majority of the cases, but experts warn against stigmatizing them.
Monkeypox can be transmitted sexually. The researchers don't want to label the monkeypox outbreak as sexually transmitted because they think most patients acquired the disease through sexual activity. They stressed the need for a coordinated response that addresses all ways monkeypox can be spread, saying there is a significant difference between something being passed on through close contact and something that can only be acquired in a sexual context. Monkeypox can be spread through close contact with an infectious animal or person. Respiratory droplets can be used to spread it.
Men who have sex with men are most affected by the monkeypox outbreak.
There are people who should get a vaccine.
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