As monkeypox spreads, know the difference between warning and stigmatizing people
When the World Health Organization declared monkeypox a public health emergency over the weekend, it also warned of another threat to society:
"Stigma and discrimination can be as dangerous as any virus," said WHO Director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
In fact, the WHO emergency committee that had previously considered whether to issue such a declaration was unable to reach a consensus in part because of concerns about the risk of stigma, marginalization and discrimination against the communities hit hardest by the virus.
The global monkeypox outbreak appears to mostly affect men who have sex with other men. A study published in the New England Journal found that 98% of people diagnosed with the virus between April and June in more than a dozen countries identify as gay or bisexual men, and that 99% of U.S. cases are related to male-to-male sexual contact.
