Monkeypox ‘spreading in sexual networks’
Mateo Prochazka, an STI expert and the head of the UK Health Security Agency team investigating the monkeypox cases, said sex has never been described before as a means of its transmission.
He tweeted: “Close contact between two people (such as during sex) could facilitate transmission – but this has never been described before.
“However, the high proportion of cases in the current outbreak in England that are gay or bisexual (4/7, 57 per cent) is highly suggestive of spread in sexual networks.
“This is further suggested by the fact that common contacts have been identified for only two of the four latest cases.”
He added that this would mean the virus could be transmitted through sex, but it was not its primary route, much like shigella.
Monkeypox cases in Britain are rare and the fact that only one of the seven cases, the very first, have a recent travel history to Africa means the virus is spreading in the community.
“What is even more bizarre is finding cases that appear to have acquired the infection via sexual contact - this is a novel route of transmission that will have implications for outbreak response and control,” Mr Prochazka said.
He added that sexual health services will be key in squashing the outbreak, and it will also be necessary to “tackle discourses that reinforce inequalities and stigma”.
Scientists are divided on the theory, with some agreeing that this could be the first documentation of the virus being passed during sex.
“This may indeed be the first time transmission of monkeypox via sexual contact has been documented, although it has not been confirmed to be the case,” said Dr Michael Head, a global health scientist from the University of Southampton.
Prof Neil Mabbott, personal chair in immunopathology at the University of Edinburgh, added: “Transmission of monkeypox virus infection in humans by sexual contact has not previously been documented, and the recent cases suggest a potentially novel means of spread.”
Health officials are now urging the gay and bisexual man community to be particularly aware of “any unusual rashes or lesions on any part of their body, especially their genitalia, and to contact a sexual health service if they have concerns”.
