Stigmatisation linking gay men to monkeypox, health professional warn against bigotry

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Health professionals have called on South Africans not to resort to bigotry around monkeypox. The first case of the disease was confirmed in a 30-year-old man from Johannesburg, who has no history of international travel. Health Minister Dr. Joe Phaahla says the disease spreads through close droplets, so you cannot get it by being in the same room with an infected person.
Meanwhile: The NICD has warned against stigmatising gay people or men who sleep with men saying the information shared about monkeypox was to provide epidemiological context for the current multi-national outbreak and is by no means profiling any members of society. The NICD has stressed there’s little to no risk of a monkeypox pandemic in the country.

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