Monkeypox is transmitted from the skin, mouth, genitals, and anus of an infected person, and then
enters a new person primarily through close contact, including
skin-to-skin contact, kissing, oral sex (genital/anal). Monkeypox can also be transmitted by bedding and inhaled droplets so it's not technically or strictly an STI, however, the prolonged skin-to-skin contact and potential transmission of fluids (mucous, genital, anal) mean that
sex is a powerful transmission route. The majority of infections in the UK (so far) are between gays and bisexuals, indicating a sexual transmission route.
The incubation period is 1-3 weeks.
Monkeypox is infectious from 5 days before showing symptoms and for the duration of the presence of active skin lesions. Typically people are no longer infectious when rash lesions crust, dry or fall off.
The recent
fatality rate is 3-6% but can go as high as
11% (
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So far there are less than a dozen cases in the UK, but given the incubation period (1-3 weeks), there are likely several more people incubating the virus, and spreading the virus right now. Most news agencies are protecting the gay community by not implicating them in transmission, but they won't be as nice if there is an outbreak in the punting community. And this would likely lead to bad press for sex work and punting, and potential regulation and backlash.
It's worth keeping punting to a minimum (punting as necessary) until this blows over.
There have been a simultaneous appearance of 92 cases of monkeypox with outbreaks in 12 countries that are
not endemic for the virus within just a 1 week span (
External Link/Members Only,
External Link/Members Only). Given the route of spread and incubation period, this makes it very likely to have been intentionally released simultaneously in several countries. Because it is
relatively minor compared to much more lethal viruses, perhaps it is just a "warning shot".
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