The doctor said he went to the Emergency Room where they swabbed his lesions to test for the virus. The illness lasts two to four weeks, according to the CDC, and causes symptoms such as a fever, headache and muscle aches prior to the appearance of a rash. Monkeypox is transmitted from animals to humans. This would be uncharacteristic of the virus and would imply that it has developed a new way of spreading.Įxperts at the World Health Organization ( WHO) have stressed that monkeypox "is not a gay disease." Some experts believe this could be down to direct contact made during sex, but they are currently researching whether the virus can spread through fluids. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC) reported last week the disease was primarily affecting "men who have sex with men." While scientists are still researching the cause of the recent outbreak, some cases of monkeypox have been linked to sexual contact. However, until now the virus was usually only seen in parts of Western and Central Africa, meaning scientists are still learning about it and how it spreads. Many of those infected develop a rash of lesions on their body, which, when touched, are thought to be the main source of transmission. Monkeypox has been spreading throughout the globe in recent weeks. He began the video by saying: "Do you want to learn about monkeypox? Because I got it." "I was in disbelief when I saw the lesions because I thought was still quite rare-but apparently not, which is why I'm sharing," he wrote in an Instagram caption to the video.
Thatgaydoctor described his symptoms in a video online. In this combination image, two stock photos of a doctor and a stethoscope and a monkeypox outbreak on a body.