Monkeypox Spreading among Gay Men Worldwide

The World Health Organization (WHO) has now confirmed nearly 100 cases of monkeypox in over a dozen countries, with the largest number in the UK. While most cases so far are among gay and bisexual men, health officials emphasise that anyone can contract the virus through close personal contact.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported the first case in the current outbreak on 7 May in a man who had recently travelled to Nigeria, where monkeypox is endemic. This was soon followed by two additional cases who share a household and four cases among gay and bisexual men, all of whom appear to have contracted the virus locally. As of 23 May, UKHSA has reported 70 confirmed cases in England and one in Scotland.

The latest WHO update on 21 May listed 92 confirmed and 28 suspected cases. After the UK, most cases have been reported in Spain and Portugal, with smaller numbers in several other European countries, Canada, the United States, and Australia. An informal tally by global.health, compiled from various sources, listed more than 300 confirmed or suspected cases worldwide as of 25 May.

Cases so far have “mainly but not exclusively been identified amongst men who have sex with men,” according to WHO. Among the global.health cases with known sex and age, all but three are young or middle-aged men. Many of the affected men identify as gay or bisexual or sought care at sexual health clinics. Several cases are reportedly linked to a sauna in Spain and a fetish festival in Belgium. Many of the men reported recent international travel.