Despite MonkeyPox Fears, WHO Insists Pride Parades Continue As Planned
Bo Banks
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One of the leading theories for the unusual outbreak of monkeypox is believed to stem from homosexual intercourse at two raves recently held in Europe.
According to released public health guidance on monkeypox last week from the World Health Organization (WHO), the disease was likely spread through sexual contact between two men at a rave party in Berlin. The men then went to different parts of the world and infected others through sexual contact.
Regardless, a WHO advisor said on Monday during a public briefing that people shouldn’t change their plans regarding attending pride parades in June.
“It’s important that people who want to go out and celebrate gay pride, LGBTQ+ pride, to continue to go and plan to do so,” said Andy Seale, a strategies adviser in the WHO Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections Programmes.
He added, “There is no specific transmission route that we need to be worried about. It really is connected to the fact there have been a couple of events that have perhaps amplified the current outbreak.”
According to Seale, since pride parades typically happen outdoors, goers need not worry. Especially considering recent monkeypox cases have been linked to indoor settings like nightclubs.
“We don’t see any real reason to be concerned about enhanced likelihood of transmission in those contexts,” Seale explained. “Because the parties that we’ve been referring to have perhaps been more in enclosed spaces.”
It’s important to note that there is no specific evidence linking monkeypox to any one event or group of people. However, authorities and WHO experts are still investigating all potential leads to help contain the outbreak.
In the meantime, officials are urging people to take precautions and practice safe sex to prevent the further spread of the disease. But with Pride Month just around the corner, many are skeptical about how this guidance will be received within the LGBTQ+ community.
As expected, June is posed to see large gatherings of LGBTQ+ people around the world to celebrate Pride Month. And with the recent outbreak of monkeypox, some have been wondering if it is still safe to attend these events. This latest announcement from the WHO was meant to squash those concerns.
It’s worth noting that there is no specific treatment for monkeypox and the disease can be fatal in up to 10% of cases. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, exhaustion, rash, and swollen lymph nodes. The incubation period is usually between 5 and 21 days.
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