African scientists warn that discrimination against gay and bisexual men on the continent could make an mpox outbreak in Congo worse. Last month, U.N. officials confirmed that a more severe form of mpox was spreading via sex for the first time in Congo. In previous flare-ups, the virus mainly sickened people in contact with diseased animals. Experts say the stigma against gay communities is driving the disease underground. And they say mass vaccine campaigns, like the ones used to curb mpox in rich countries last year, are unlikely to be successful in Africa, for several reasons.
Unwillingness to report symptoms could drive the outbreak underground and gaps in monitoring make it a challenge to estimate how many mpox cases are linked to sex, experts say.
In a November report, the World Health Organization revealed a noteworthy development in the transmission of monkeypox, also known as mpox, indicating its
As Congo copes with its biggest outbreak of mpox, scientists warn discrimination against gay and bisexual men on the continent could make it worse. In November, the World Health Organization reported that mpox, also known as monkeypox, was being spread via sex in Congo for the first time. That is a significant departure from previous…
KINSHASA, Congo (AP) As Congo copes with its biggest outbreak of mpox, scientists warn discrimination against gay and bisexual men on the continent could make it worse.
In November, the World Health.