British health officials will start offering vaccines to certain men who are gay or bisexual or have sex with men who are at highest risk of contracting monkey pox in an effort to curb the outbreak of the disease beyond . The British Health and Safety Administration said in a statement on Tuesday that doctors could consider vaccinating some gay or bisexual men and men having sex with men at highest risk of exposure, defined as people with “multiple partners “(participating) in group sex or (attending)” on-site sexual intercourse “. “By extending the supply of vaccine to those at higher risk, we hope to break the transmission chains and help curb the epidemic,” said Dr Mary Ramsey, head of immunization at the Health Insurance Agency. Last month, a top World Health Organization adviser said the outbreak of monkey pox across Africa was likely spread by sexual activity by male raves in Spain and Belgium. Vaccines were previously only available for healthcare workers caring for patients with monkey pox or for cleaners that disinfect areas infected with the virus. The vaccine was originally developed for smallpox, a related disease, but it is believed to be about 85 percent effective against monkeypox. To date, over 99 per cent of monkey pox cases in Britain are among men, and the majority of them are men who are gay, bisexual or having sex with men. Scientists warn that anyone who is in close, physical contact with someone infected with smallpox or their clothes or sheets is at risk for the disease, regardless of their sexual orientation. There are currently 793 cases of monkey pox in the United Kingdom, from more than 2,100 cases in 42 countries worldwide. No deaths have been reported across Africa. Until last month, monkey pox had caused only major outbreaks in central and western Africa. the continent has so far reported more than 1,500 cases and 72 suspected deaths in a separate epidemic. Vaccines have never been used in Africa to control monkey pox. Last week, World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the continuing spread of smallpox in countries that had not previously seen the disease as “unusual and worrying.” Tedros convenes a meeting of experts on Thursday to decide whether the expanding monkey pox epidemic justifies declaring a global emergency. This would give it the same characterization as the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing effort to eradicate polio.
title: “Monkeypox Uk To Offer Vaccines To Some Gay Bisexual Men " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-28” author: “Robert Scott”
British health officials will start offering vaccines to certain men who are gay or bisexual or have sex with men who are at highest risk of contracting monkey pox in an effort to curb the outbreak of the disease beyond . The British Health and Safety Administration said in a statement on Tuesday that doctors could consider vaccinating some gay or bisexual men and men having sex with men at highest risk of exposure, defined as people with “multiple partners “(participating) in group sex or (attending)” on-site sexual intercourse “. “By extending the supply of vaccine to those at higher risk, we hope to break the transmission chains and help curb the epidemic,” said Dr Mary Ramsey, head of immunization at the Health Insurance Agency. Last month, a top World Health Organization adviser said the outbreak of monkey pox across Africa was likely spread by sexual activity by male raves in Spain and Belgium. Vaccines were previously only available for healthcare workers caring for patients with monkey pox or for cleaners that disinfect areas infected with the virus. The vaccine was originally developed for smallpox, a related disease, but it is believed to be about 85 percent effective against monkeypox. To date, over 99 per cent of monkey pox cases in Britain are among men, and the majority of them are men who are gay, bisexual or having sex with men. Scientists warn that anyone who is in close, physical contact with someone infected with smallpox or their clothes or sheets is at risk for the disease, regardless of their sexual orientation. There are currently 793 cases of monkey pox in the United Kingdom, from more than 2,100 cases in 42 countries worldwide. No deaths have been reported across Africa. Until last month, monkey pox had caused only major outbreaks in central and western Africa. the continent has so far reported more than 1,500 cases and 72 suspected deaths in a separate epidemic. Vaccines have never been used in Africa to control monkey pox. Last week, World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the continuing spread of smallpox in countries that had not previously seen the disease as “unusual and worrying.” Tedros convenes a meeting of experts on Thursday to decide whether the expanding monkey pox epidemic justifies declaring a global emergency. This would give it the same characterization as the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing effort to eradicate polio.
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