What is monkeypox?
Monkeypox is a disease that can make people sick with flu-like symptoms. It is also accompanied by rashes and blisters. It is easily spread to anyone through close, personal, often skin-to-skin contact. This means direct contact with monkeypox rash, sores, or scabs from a person with monkeypox. It’s also not limited to contact with surfaces touched by infected persons or respiratory secretions from infected persons.
How people can decrease chances of getting monkeypox?
The best chances of you not receiving monkeypox means avoiding as much direct skin to skin contact as possible, especially with people you don’t know. As you know, some venues are probably a little safer than others when it comes to direct skin to skin contact. However, if you are feeling sick and have rashes and sores do not attend any form of gathering and visit your doctor.
Even one on one activities can compromise your safety. Activities such as sex can cause the spread of monkeypox. We recommend speaking to your partner to see if they have any new rashes, sores, or illness. However, the best thing to do is practice abstinence, if you believe your partner is infected.
What don’t we know about monkeypox?
Not all questions about monkeypox have been answered yet. Researchers are still unsure if the virus can be spread if someone doesn’t have symptoms. Researchers are also unsure if the the virus is present in other human fluids i.e. semen, vaginal fluids, and fecal matter. As a result we ask people to use caution when there are know cases of monkeypox in your area. Stay safe!
References
“Social Gatherings, Safer Sex, and Monkeypox.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 8 June 2022, https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/sexualhealth/social.html.
Routley Graphics/Design: , Nick. “Explainer: What to Know about Monkeypox.” Visual Capitalist, 24 May 2022, https://www.visualcapitalist.com/explainer-what-to-know-about-monkeypox/.