Finland confirmed its first case of monkeypox on Friday, joining the long list of European countries affected by the disease. The patient is not hospitalized and is doing well.
219 cases have been identified worldwide so far, including 191 in Europe.
In Spain, where more than 80 cases have been confirmed, most of whom have attended a Madrid gay sauna, fear of community stigma is growing.
This Madrilenian says: “There is a bit of exaggeration and a lot of stigma. And it’s really a shame to hear comments like “it’s only for gays!“
But the scientific community said it from the start, the virus is not in the category of STDs. It can be transmitted by simple tactile contact.
Andrea Antinori, immunologist at the Institute of Infectious Diseases in Rome: “Transmission occurs through close contact. In fact, sexual intercourse can be considered close contact, but it is not the only possible close contact. I would avoid for the moment identifying this disease as a sexually transmitted disease and especially identifying the population, men who have sex with men, as carriers of this disease because I believe that it is our responsibility not to stigmatize this situation.“
Monkeypox has a mortality rate of only 3 to 6%. Most patients recover following three to four weeks. But the WHO says stay very vigilant in the face of this “unusual situation”.