The United Nations AIDS Agency has called some reports of the monkeypox virus racist and homophobic, warning of escalating stigma and undermining the response to the growing epidemic.
UNAIDS said a “significant proportion” of recent cases of monkeypox have been identified among gays, bisexuals and other men who have sex with men.
But the transmission is most likely through close physical contact with a monkey sufferer and could affect anyone, he added, adding that some images of Africans and LGBTI people “reinforce homophobic and racist stereotypes and exacerbate stigma.”
As of May 21, the World Health Organization had received reports of 92 laboratory-confirmed cases of monkeypox and 28 suspected cases from 12 countries where the disease is not endemic, including several European nations, the United States, Australia and Canada.
“Stigma and accusation undermine trust and the capacity to respond effectively to outbreaks like this,” said UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director Matthew Cavanagh.
“Experience has shown that stigmatizing rhetoric can quickly deactivate evidence-based responses by fueling the fear cycle, discouraging people from health services, hindering case-finding efforts, and promoting ineffective, punitive measures.
Argentina’s health ministry said Sunday it had uncovered a suspected case of monkeypox in Buenos Aires, amid growing global concern about rising cases in Europe and elsewhere, a viral infection more common in West and Central Africa.
Both Israel and Switzerland have said they have identified an infected person who has recently traveled abroad. Israel is investigating other alleged cases.
Austria confirmed its first case of the virus on Sunday, while US health officials said they may have found the third case in the country and are testing a patient in South Florida.
Symptoms of monkeypox include fever, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and chickenpox-like rash on the hands and face.
There is no cure, but the symptoms usually clear up after two to four weeks. The disease is considered endemic in 11 African countries.
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