Am I at Risk of Catching Monkeypox?

By: Sarah Son

Monkeypox, a viral disease causing symptoms similar to those seen in smallpox, has been spreading throughout the United States. Although some are concerned about monkeypox being COVID-19 round 2, this is not the case. Thankfully, the majority of the population is not at risk of catching the monkeypox virus as nearly all infected patients were adult men who have sex with men. Monkeypox can be contracted through direct contact with an infected individual’s rash, touching contaminated objects, or through respiratory droplets caused by an infected individual’s coughs or sneezes. In most cases, monkeypox is spread through infected family members, caring for infected patients, or having sex with an infected individual.  

So, are you at risk of catching the monkeypox virus? If one shares close contact with an infected person, that puts them at high risk of catching the virus. To be specific, the actions that typically occur during sex, such as cuddling, hugging, massaging, and kissing will put a person at high risk since that person is in continuous contact with the infected individual. As stated in the previous paragraph, living or being constantly around an infected person also greatly increases the risk of catching the virus since you are in frequent contact with them and are likely sharing some of the same essential home kitchen/bath products. 

Habits such as masking up, staying several feet away from others, and avoiding high-attendance events such as parties lower your risk of catching the monkeypox virus. Epidemiologists say that the virus being transmitted through surfaces such as handles or counters is unlikely. They also conclude that sitting on public transportation, such as buses and subways, is not as risky compared to during the peaks of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the monkeypox virus is still in its beginning stages for now, and experts say that conclusions are prone to change as more data is collected.