It can be treated with the smallpox vaccine along with antiviral drugs. It is important we tackle these misleading messages so that everyone is informed and protected.”Įarly symptoms include high temperature, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen glands, shivering and exhaustion, with a rash usually appearing up to five days after the first symptoms. “Transmission just happened to have started within the gay community, who are already stigmatised due to out of date ideas about HIV. “The current outbreak started in one community - gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men - but could be spread by anyone in close contact with another person who is infected. A member of the same family of viruses as smallpox, although it is much less severe and experts say chances of infection are low. Sadly in the case of monkeypox, this may lead to homophobia or abuse which is damaging to the LGBTQ+ community and may impact public health in general. Much of the reporting has created confusion about how people can catch the disease and who is likely to be affected. “Monkeypox has been making the news recently with an unusual outbreak in the UK causing some concern for health professionals. READ MORE 'Haven't we been through enough?' - Readers react as 80 pupils banned from high school prom Rachel Walker, Community Development Worker at Body Positive Cheshire & North Wales, said: “As is often the case, stigma and misinformation about diseases often cause more difficulties for people who need treatment or are trying to stay safe because unfounded and inaccurate ideas start to spread. However Crewe's LGBTQ charity says the message is fuelling stigma about the gay community and the group is concerned it will lead to a rise in incidents of homophobia. Men who are gay or bisexual and men who have sex with men are being urged in particular to be aware of symptoms as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says “the majority of the cases identified to date” have been among this group. An outbreak of the disease has been seen in the UK this month, with now more than 100 cases in the country since May 7. Cheshire-based LGBTQ charity Body Positive has spoken out over the 'damaging' stigma being aimed at the gay community over the spread of monkeypox.