Despite the lack of reporting, Monkeypox (MPOX) has still been on a few people’s minds. It was a year ago that the Gay Pride Festivals in Africa and Europe served as ground zeroes for the global spread of the disease, almost exclusively in men who have sex with other men. Well, guess what?
Related: Pride Month is Still a Week Away, But Monkey Pox Season Started Three Weeks Ago
That continues to be the case. According to the WHOs External Situation Report 23, published 26 May 2023 on the Multi-country outbreak of Monkeypox, while it no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), 84.1% of those infected – when the information was given or available – “have self-identified as gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.” The real number is higher as many men will not be in countries where that is something you can openly admit.
Another interesting detail from the same report in which “the WHO Director-General accepted the advice of the committee members that mpox no longer constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)” is this tidbit.
As of 22 May 2023, 24 of the 111 affected countries reported new cases within the last 21 days, the maximum disease incubation period, highlighting the fact that the multi-country outbreak is not over. Nine of them are in the Americas, six in the European Region, six in the Western Pacific Region, one in the African Region, one in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, and one in the South-East Asia Region. Some of these countries continue to have sustained community transmission of mpox, while others only report sporadic cases.
The massive global Gran Canarian and Belgium pride festivals went on as planned this year as well or have any number of similar expressions that lead to last year’s news-worthy outbreak—followed by all that fancy dancing to avoid the most common factor in the spread. The WHO will issue its first pride month monkeypox report next week and then again two weeks later in late June. We may see some interesting numbers if we look.
A spike, perhaps, not in media coverage, of course, but that’s why you read GranitGrok. Actual public health news you can use. For what? I have no idea. That’s up to you, but if you have friends who like to have sex with men, remind them that the monkeypox isn’t gone, and it is in their best interests to proceed with caution.
While rarely fatal, it appears to be very unpleasant. You probably don’t want to spend the summer with the pox.
