The mode of transmission of monkeypox still interests many scientists as nearly 28,000 cases have been identified worldwide in the space of three months.
The typical profile of the majority of patients
The monkey pox, a disease already well known in Africa, continues to spread throughout the world. More than 28,000 have been registered since the first cases appeared in Spain three months ago. Researchers are currently studying the mode of transmission of the disease. First analyzes were recently published in three reference scientific publications, the Lancet, the British Medical Journal and the New England Journal of Medicine. It has been revealed that most of those infected are adult males having homosexual relations. According to The Lancet study, carried out in medical structures in Madrid and Barcelona, 92% of the 181 patients are men who have sex with men compared to 8% of women (3%) and heterosexual men. (5%), reports the Huffington Post.
Minimize prolonged skin contact
This observation joins the report of August 4 of the National Agency according to which there is an immense majority of men having sexual relations with men among the patients (96% of the cases for which the sexual orientation is informed). Lancet researchers have highlighted sexual relations as a major vector of the virus. “Our study supports the idea that skin-to-skin contact during sexual intercourse is the dominant mechanism for transmission of monkey poxwith significant consequences on the way in which the disease must be apprehended at the health level”, says the study. Pending other studies that will confirm these statements, the researchers recommend minimizing prolonged skin contact, mucosa to mucosa, particularly likely during sexual intercourse.
If the trail of airborne transmission seems to be out of the question, many gray areas still persist, namely that of transmission through semen.
See our complete file on the monkey pox
