Thread by @tmprowell

I’m concerned that labeling #monkeypox a sexually transmitted infection (STI) will cause confusion & delay (🚂) in public response. It’s transmitted most often by direct skin-to-skin contact w/ the rash (see the whole list of ways it spreads from CDC 👇), and sex includes … 1/

plenty of direct skin-to-skin contact, but you certainly don’t need to have sex to get it. That means that we will identify cases regardless of sex/gender/age, & whether or not ppl are sexually active. We have to get this right in #SciComm headlines & opening paragraphs …/2

because most people won’t read the whole article (or 🧵). They skim. We want people to understand that common STI risk reduction advice like “wear a condom” is valuable but will still leave ppl open to a lot of risk if a partner has #monkeypox. /3

We want people to know that there are already >70 confirmed cases of #monkeypox in people <18 yrs of age in 🌎. We need to make it clear that this doesn’t mean infected infants, kids, & teens must have had sexual contact. Sex IS NOT necessary for transmission of the virus. /4

We want #MedTwitter #NurseTwitter to keep #monkeypox on their radar screen if someone has signs suggestive of it (see 📸 from CDC), even if the patient is definitely not sexually active. Recognizing cases without delay is vital if we want to limit spread to others. /5

We don’t want the public to tune out because #MedTwitter tweets or #SciComm give the mistaken impression that your sex/gender/age/sexual practices make you exempt. Although WHO yest declared #monkeypox a #publichealth emergency of int’l concern, these are still early days. /6

We have had ample opportunity to learn from #HIV, #COVID19, & more that when it comes to human health, we are all interconnected. Let’s hope we remember all the lessons for the #monkeypox pop quiz. For extra credit, read here: cdc.gov/poxvirus/monke…. #MedTwitter /End