Monkeypox Can Be Spread Through Kissing, Sexual Contact Or Sharing Bedding And Towels

Sexual contact, social events or sharing bedding and more are just some of the ways a person could catch Monkeypox.

Last Tuesday, the World Health Organization declared the rare and infectious viral disease monkeypox a global emergency. So far, there are about more than 16,000 Monkeypox cases worldwide, in at least 75 countries. One of those countries is the U.S., which has a recorded 3,91 cases. There have been at least 75 Monkeypox-related deaths in Africa, where a more severe version of the disease is spreading.

There are a variety of ways a person could catch the virus including going out in social settings, direct contact through romantic or sexual intimacy, or even trying on new clothes. Dr. Robert Murphy, executive director of the Robert Harvey Institute for Global Health, says there is no way to end the disease at this stage.

“Monkeypox infection may not be eradicable at this point. The question really is can it be contained and managed?” said Murphy.

WHO’s top monkeypox expert Dr. Rosamund Lewis, says 99 percent of all monkeypox cases outside of Africa were found in men, and 98 percent of those cases came from male-to-male sex.

“Person-to-person transmission is possible through “close physical contact with monkeypox sores, items that have been contaminated with fluids or sores (clothing, bedding, etc.), or through respiratory droplets following prolonged face-to-face contact,” according to the Chicago Department of Public Health, NBC Chicago reports.

There’s no evidence that shows Monkeypox can be spread through the air. Some of the symptoms of Monkeypox include swollen lymph nodes, flu-like symptoms and the development of rashes on the face and body.