NEW DELHI: Since the World Health Organization declared the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern and the head of the UN health body advised the MSM (men having sex with men) community to reduce the number of sexual partners, the role of sexual behaviour has become a hot topic of discussion.

This is because the virus can spread through any kind of close physical contact with an infected person over an extended period of time.

Because sex includes intense and protracted physical contact between two persons, Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, Co-Chairman of the national Covid-19 working team, claims that it makes it simpler for the virus to spread.

However, he claimed that persons who have several partners are particularly at danger since they are more likely to not only contract the infection more quickly but also spread it to more others.

"There is virtually no risk for infection to spread if an infected person just engages in sexual activity with his wife. The wife might catch the sickness, but it won't spread to anyone else. However, if a person has numerous relationships, it may spread to other people, starting a chain of transmission "he said. He emphasised that no one should be stigmatised because of their sexual orientation, effectively putting an end to the misperception about the MSM community.

"Gay, bisexual, transgender, and commercial sex workers are four categories who are highly susceptible to monkeypox transmission, but only those who have several partners through sexual networks are at danger. The initial instances came from the MSM sub-group in excess of 95%. There is no need for alarm because of the government's prompt initiatives, "said Jayadevan.

Monkeypox: Centre holds meeting of experts today

Overlapping crises of Covid-19 accelerating health inequality: Tedros

WHO says Monkeypox likely to cause more fatalities