WHO urges reduced sexual activity to curb monkeypox

MONKEYPOX may not be containable, the World Health Organisation has admitted – as it urged people to “reduce the number of sexual partners” to help curb the outbreak.

In a statement yesterday, Dr Hans Kluge, head of the WHO’S Europe office, said that although the monkeypox response should not mimic the scale of Covid-style restrictions, health authorities do need to take “significant and urgent” action to mitigate the threat.

“But – and this is important – we do not yet know if we will be able to contain its spread completely,” Dr Kluge warned. The WHO has so far maintained that the world has “an opportunity to stop this outbreak”.

The WHO official added that Europe is currently at the “epicentre of the largest and most geographically widespread monkeypox outbreak ever reported” outside west and central Africa, where the disease is endemic.

He suggested the sudden explosion of cases suggests transmission was “under way as early as mid-april”.

According to a team at global.health tracking monkeypox’s spread, 70 per cent of roughly 700 confirmed or suspected cases reported worldwide have been found in Europe, where the transmission has been linked to raves, parties and adult saunas. The UKHSA announced 11 more infections in England yesterday, taking the UK’S tally to 190.

“The potential for further transmission in Europe and elsewhere over the summer is high,” Dr Kluge warned. “Over the coming months, many of the dozens of festivals and large parties planned provide further contexts where amplification may occur.”

He suggested health authorities should support organisers of mass gatherings to communicate the risks of the disease – and how to minimise spread. This includes reducing sexual activity.

“We will interrupt transmission if we act now… [to] increase awareness and share information on how people can reduce their risk of exposure, including by reducing the number of sexual partners they have,” Dr Kluge said.

So far, the majority of cases have been identified among men who have sex with men, but Dr Kluge stressed that anyone can be infected. “Young people regardless of gender and sexual orientation or activity” should be aware of how to reduce the risks of catching and spreading monkeypox, he said. ♦scammers are sending out fake texts claiming to be from the NHS saying the recipient has been in close contact with monkeypox. It says to order a test and pay a small fee but when they enter bank card details huge sums are stolen.