LONDON – World Health Organization (WHO) is investigating reports that monkeypox virus is in air mani patients, exploring the possibility that the disease can be transmitted sexual intercourse.
Many of the cases in the current monkeypox outbreak, mostly centered in Europe, have been reported among sexual partners who have had close contact, and the agency confirms that the virus is mainly transmitted through close interpersonal contact.
In recent days, scientists say they have detected viral DNA in the semen of several monkeypox patients in Italy and Germany, including laboratory-tested samples showing that the virus found in the semen of one patient is capable of infecting others and replicating.
Read also: More than 1,000 cases of monkeypox were reported to WHO, 29 countries were infected
Catherine Smallwood, monkeypox incident manager at WHO Europe, said it was not known whether recent reports meant the monkeypox virus could be transmitted sexually.
Read also: Monkeypox cases skyrocket to 780, the cause is dominated by intimate relationships
“This may be something we weren’t aware of in this disease before,” he told a news conference.
“We really need to focus on the most frequent modes of transmission and we clearly see that in terms of skin-to-skin contact.”
More than 1,300 cases of the viral illness have been reported by about 30 countries since early May. Most cases have been reported in men who have sex with men.
The outbreak has sparked concern as the virus is rarely seen outside Africa, where it is endemic, and most European cases are not linked to travel to the continent.
As the outbreak spreads, the WHO has recommended targeted vaccination of close contacts, including health workers, but has warned they are already seeing a rush to stockpile vaccines.
“Once again, the ‘me first’ approach could have disastrous consequences in the future,” said Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe.
“I appeal to the government to tackle monkeypox without repeating the mistakes of the pandemic – and keeping equality at the core of everything we do,” he added.
–
–
