Public health advice on the recent outbreak of monkeypox in the WHO European Region. 24 May 2022

An outbreak of a disease called monkeypox is currently taking place in many countries of the WHO European Region, where cases have not typically been reported in the past. This can be concerning, especially for people whose loved ones or communities have been affected. Some infected people have been identified through clinics for sexually transmitted infections in population groups of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.

It is important to note that monkeypox is not limited to men who have sex with men, although most of the current cases are from this community. Anyone who has close contact with someone who is infectious can catch monkeypox, regardless of their sexual orientation. It is wrong to stigmatize anyone.

While everyone can catch monkeypox, not everyone is at equal risk. People who closely interact with someone who is infectious are at greater risk for infection; this includes household members, sexual partners, commercial sex workers and health workers.

Learning about monkeypox and targeting health information and advice to those who are at highest risk of infection will help ensure that as few people as possible are affected and that the outbreak can be stopped.