Medscape exclusive: Sexual health advocate, HarunTulunay, talks about what it’s really like to have monkeypox. via Positively_UK
In May of this year three separate incidents of the West African monkeypox clade were identified in the UK. The first was travel-associated from Nigeria, the second was not travel related, and according to the UK Health Security Agency was likely to have been acquired through local transmission with spread limited to the same household.
Until Recently, Monkeypox was Confined to Endemic Parts of the World - Why has this Infection Spread Globally? "In combination with the lifting of measures from the first part of the year for COVID-19, the return of people to events where people are gathering much more closely together, events that took place in around May this year - Pride events that were bringing people together - and the international groups of people, likely did have a role in further amplifying this," Dr Smallwood explained.
His advocacy focus has changed a little bit as a result of monkeypox. "We have lots of people sharing, doctors sharing lots of epidemiological information, so I am focusing on the mental [aspects] because no-one is talking about the psychology of it", he said. In a recent interview for the WHO Harun explained how all the unanswered questions had taken a toll on his mental health."Watch out for the symptoms, be mindful, and talk about it," advised Harun.
"There's some advantages in doing that – it might take the emphasis away from MSM and might help in de-stigmatising the disease." He raised concerns that the Government’s decision to "drop this bomb" onto sexual health clinics for testing and treatment has created misconceptions amongst the general public. He explained how "when something is in the gay community, everyone loves to blame sex at first".
"The good news is that we are yet to be informed of any occupational exposure of healthcare workers in this current outbreak."The WHO is not recommending that everyone be vaccinated for monkeypox. There are several reasons why, explained Dr Smallwood. "It’s not needed in our view, and it’s not possible."
People who have already had close contact with a patient with confirmed monkeypox. Vaccination with a single dose of vaccine should be offered as soon as possible - ideally within 4 days of contact.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
San Antonio Metropolitan Health District administering limited number of monkeypox vaccinationsThe vaccine is only available in limited quantities to individuals who meet certain criteria. SanAntonio SATX SanAntonioTX monkeypox monkeypoxvaccine Texas
Read more »
Health experts: Fall school semester could amplify spread of monkeypox'Anything is possible. We just have to make sure that we're using policies and procedures to reduce the transmission,' said Dr. Wardlaw as monkeypox cases rise across the region.
Read more »
US Officials to Declare Monkeypox a Public Health EmergencyBREAKING: The Biden administration plans to declare the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency, freeing up resources to respond to the virus, two sources tell NBCNews.
Read more »
Biden Officials Declare Monkeypox a Public Health EmergencyBreaking: Monkeypox was declared a public-health emergency in the U.S. as cases mount around the country, a move aimed at speeding up the distribution of vaccines
Read more »
US to declare monkeypox public health emergencyBiden administration has been criticised for the pace of vaccine availability for monkeypox, while the White House said it has helped to boost domestic diagnostic capacity to 80,000 tests per week.
Read more »
Explainer: How worried should we be about the monkeypox health emergency?The United States declared the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency, a move that may increase health agency access to funds and allow the government new avenues for increasing production and use of existing vaccines.
Read more »