There have been over 300 suspected and confirmed cases of monkeypox in May.
Frankfurt:
An expert from the World Health Organization said on Monday that the unusual spread of monkeypox doesn’t mean people should stay away from LGBTQ pride parades this summer.
The usually mild illness that can cause flu-like symptoms and skin sores has disproportionately affected men who have sex with men. Health officials have emphasized that anyone who has close skin-to-skin contact with an infected person can spread the disease.
“It’s important that those who want to go out and celebrate gay pride, LGBTQ pride, continue to go and make plans to do so,” said Andy Seeley, strategy advisor at the WHO’s Department of Sexually Transmitted Infection Programs. Said in a social media briefing. ,
“Most of these programs — official events — are out, they’re family-friendly. We see no real reason to be concerned about an increased chance of transmission in those contexts.”
He said that many current affairs related events took place in enclosed spaces like nightclubs.
Upcoming Pride Marches are scheduled for New York on June 26 or in Berlin on July 23, among other locations.
Another WHO official said the outbreak of monkeypox outside Africa is unlikely to cause a pandemic, adding that it is not clear whether infected people who are not displaying symptoms can transmit the disease.
In May, more than 300 suspected and confirmed cases of monkeypox have been reported, mostly in Europe.
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