Monkeypox can spread irrespective of sexual orientation, race: WHO

Stigma and discrimination can be as dangerous as any virus, says WHO Director General

Monkeypox, a viral zoonotic disease that has instilled fear among people across the world after its prevalence in over a dozen countries. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 22,485 monkeypox cases reported from 79 countries.

World Health Organization (WHO) earlier had said that some of the monkeypox cases were reported in health clinics located in the LGBTQ communities. The statement has triggered a sense of discrimination against the community, with people believing that the disease spread from men who have sexual intercourse with same sex.

Refuting that claim, Director General of WHO Dr Tedros Adhanom