Italian researchers investigate the suspicion that monkey pox can be transmitted through sperm. One finding contradicts the assumption that the “virus only rarely or accidentally” occurs in seminal fluid. Although monkeypox is primarily transmitted through “direct contact” with the typical pustules, a new study shows that “semen can also carry infections.”
His research team examined the semen of 16 infected men and found the monkeypox virus in 14 cases, according to Francesco Vaia, head of the Spallanzani hospital in Rome, which specializes in infectious diseases.
Vaia’s team is now also investigating whether the monkeypox virus is also present in vaginal secretions. It also tries to find out how long the virus remains in the semen after the first symptoms appear.
In one of the cases studied, the virus was still found in the semen three weeks after the first symptoms appeared, while the blisters had already disappeared. The clinic manager therefore advises to continue using condoms, even after an infection has ended.
Monkeypox has been spreading since May, especially in Western Europe. Typical symptoms of the disease include a high fever, swollen lymph nodes, and pustules similar to chickenpox. The disease is transmitted through close body and skin contact. More than 3,400 cases have been reported in more than 50 countries, including Austria, since the start of the year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Most of those affected were therefore men who have sex with men.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
