Gatherings and festivals held in large numbers for Pride month in the United States have put public health on alert regarding a possible increase in the transmission of monkeypox.
Nearly 32,063 cases and 58 deaths have been recorded since the disease began appearing a few years ago, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
When the epidemic was at its peak in the summer of 2022, 3,000 cases per week were recorded in the United States.
“It is a disease that is transmitted by touching skin-to-skin lesions and which can potentially be transmitted through the respiratory route,” explained Dr. Julien Cavanagh, specialist in infectious and autoimmune diseases.
“Coming into the summer, when we have more gatherings, especially right now in Pride month where there are potentially festivals, clubbing, people meeting, there is a concern of resurgence of contamination,” he said.
The situation is also being closely monitored in Quebec due to the numerous trips across the border, especially since some cases of monkeypox in Quebec came from the United States in 2022.
“We need to have this information to advise our patients to be vaccinated,” underlined Dr. Réjean Thomas, co-founder of the L’Actuel medical clinic.
The latter also encouraged his patients to consult if they ever have doubts about lesions and to get their second dose of vaccine.
