A Queen Mary University of London study published in The New England Journal Of Medicine on Thursday found monkeypox is primarily found in gay or bisexual men.
The massive study looked at 528 infections diagnosed between April 27 and June 24, 2022, at 43 sites in 16 countries.
Large monkeypox study: "98 percent of those infected were gay or bisexual men" These are the important studies we need the CDC to be doing rapidly. https://t.co/PxqR7iLZWm
— Marty Makary MD, MPH (@MartyMakary) July 22, 2022
According to the finding, “many, but not all, cases have been linked to men who have sex with men.”
Another interesting find was that 41 percent of the gay or bisexual men with monkeypox also had HIV.
Lesions on patients were most commonly located near the genitals and the anus with the next most common areas being the trunk, arms, or legs.
Over half of the individuals in the study suffered from swollen lymph nodes and fever.
While the data shows the outbreak is clearly concentrated among gay or bisexual men, the study stated, “Research is still underway to determine whether monkeypox is being sexually transmitted.”
The study also claimed monkeypox is not “a gay disease” despite the connection.
“It can affect anyone. We identified nine heterosexual men with monkeypox. We urge vigilance when examining unusual acute rashes in any person, especially when rashes are combined with systemic symptoms, to avoid missing diagnoses in heterosexual persons,” the study noted.
When will public health officials begin warning gay men about protecting themselves from monkeypox?
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