Mpox, also known as monkeypox, has existed in parts of Africa for a while now. Usually, it infects people through contact with other infected animals. However, for the first time, it's spreading through sex in Congo. Now, scientists are saying that discrimination against gay and bisexual men could make it a whole lot worse. The World Health Organization (WHO) sounded the alarm in November about this Most of the roughly 91,000 people infected globally in 2022 were gay or bisexual men. In a continent where reporting symptoms might involve entering a legal gray area due to anti-gay laws, individuals might choose to remain silent about their infection. Imagine, the very thing that could help contain the outbreak – reporting symptoms and seeking treatment is hindered by fear and discrimination. Dr Dimie Ogoina, an infectious disease specialist, points out that the reluctance to report symptoms could push this outbreak underground. Also, there's a lack of awareness among health workers that mpox can spread through sex. This means missed cases and an even murkier picture of how widespread the outbreak truly is. Now, here's where it gets tricky. During the big outbreak last year, countries like
Canada,
Britain, and the US rolled out However, here in Africa, the situation was different. Stigma against gay communities might make it hard for those most at risk to step forward for vaccines. Dr Boghuma Titanji, from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, points out that the fear of being stigmatized might keep gay and bisexual men away from immunization programs. So, it's not just about having vaccines but also about ensuring they're accessible in a way that doesn't ostracize anyone. Poor supply of vaccines – another hurdle Despite approximately 13,350 suspected mpox cases in Congo, with a mortality rate of 607 deaths by November's end, only about 10 percent have been confirmed by laboratories. The absence of clarity on the percentage of infections resulting from sexual transmission underscores the urgency to enhance detection methods. WHO officials noted a lack of awareness among healthcare providers regarding the sexual transmission of mpox, resulting in missed diagnoses. This knowledge gap hinders swift intervention and complicates containment strategies. While mass vaccination campaigns were successful in certain regions during the 2022 global outbreak, the stigma against gay communities in Africa poses a challenge to implementing similar programs. The fear of stigma could deter the most vulnerable populations from participating in immunization efforts, necessitating strategic approaches to ensure inclusivity. So, what's the solution here? Dr Oyewale Tomori suggests that beefing up monitoring, lab networks, and better diagnostic supplies might be more effective than just focusing on vaccines. Unfortunately, if Africa doesn't get a grip on these outbreaks, there's a risk of it spreading to other countries, just like what happened with the global HIV pandemic. So, the bottom line? Stigma and discrimination could make this mpox outbreak worse. It's not just about disease, it's about how society treats certain groups and the impact it has when facing health crises. The key here might just be finding not only vaccines but also ways to fight the stigma that could hinder containment efforts.