Monkey pox, virologist: “Sexual transmission? Droplets first source”

“I don’t think sexual transmission is the predominant cause” of monkeypox cases. “It is quite evident that the main source of infection is the infamous ‘droplets’.” This was said by virologist Pasquale Ferrante, professor at the Temple University of Philadelphia in the USA, medical and scientific director of the Città Studi clinical institute in Milan. “No to stigma” towards social groups or sexual habits. If there is “a fixed point” to start from, in analyzing the cases of monkeypox that are increasing in an increasing number of countries, it is this, according to Ferrante. “Sexual intercourse favors the transmission of many agents, even those not known to be sexually transmitted – explains the expert in an interview with Adnkronos Health – because clearly, if a person has an infection in progress, especially with the virus in the blood, at the level of the mucous membranes there can be transmission. In this case, however – he specifies – it is quite evident that the main source of infection are the notorious ‘droplets’, the droplets of saliva also quite full-bodied that we emit in aerosol format as we speak, when we sneeze or cough, while we kiss. So it may also be “, Ferrante is keen to point out,” that it is a concomitance without particular significance that of having observed the cases of ‘monkeypox’ in these groups of people “, mainly males who do sex with males. “In other words – says the specialist – I do not believe that sexual transmission is the predominant cause. Here, even if it is all to be investigated and for now it is a matter of hypotheses – he points out – in my opinion we are faced with a zoonosis that has started from animals that became infected, perhaps pets, and then spread for reasons of closeness and close contact between people. Beyond sexual intercourse, even talking, living together, can be a factor of transmission. No to stigma “, reiterates the virologist.