Monkeypox

JGalt

While I'm an advocate of cuddling, there's a new 800 lb. gorilla in the room that needs to be addressed, as it concerns the safety of all involved. Monkeypox cases in the US are climbing much faster than anticipated and have had several states declare an emergency in response. While not a STD, the close physical skin-to-skin contact associated with sex (or cuddling) is what a majority of the cases seen so far, have in common. Something as benign as shaking an infected person's hand or coming into contact with improperly sanitized sheets can lead to transmission. There are different variants of Monkeypox, just as in Covid, with the morbidity rates ranging between 1-10% correspondingly. The following CDC link shows a map of US cases:

https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/response/2022/us-map.html

Be aware and be careful. A vaccine exists but is not readily available. Smallpox vaccinations have shown some protection against Monkeypox, but most of the general public isn't old enough to have even received this shot when they were younger.

Babichev

This subject has already been brought up. The discussion was closed because it devolved into anti-gay rhetoric and misinformation. I’ll let this stand but at the first hint that this discussion is going south I promise it will be closed.

JGalt

Burying your head in the sand isn't going to protect anyone. My comments aren't political, homophobic or misinformation. Do what you wish.

Minestrone101

I already quarantined or stayed in relative isolation for over 2 years. I double mask and got covid vaccinated. Enough waiting around- time to ballroom dance and cuddle.

Babichev

If you read what I wrote, I never said that they were. I said that the previous discussion devolved into that and if this thread even hints at it, it will be closed. No one is burying their head in the sand. We have standards about the quality of discussions here and intend on maintaining them. That is all.

JohnfromVienna

Good info. One thing, though. The CDC and WHO are still trying to determine whether Monkeypox is sexually transmitted. It has been detected in semen, but it is unproved whether or not it can be spread through semen

Ironman294

It’s not scary and only 3,000 in the states and it’s not airborne so you shouldn’t worry. If someone develops it quarantine for two - three weeks you’ll be fine. It’s not really a thing to worry about.

Babichev

Rather a moot point if you’re in that close of contact.

Minestrone101

Sounds corny, but I think everything happens for a reason - covid protocol has probably very much slowed down the spread of this disease.

I don't know, seems to me that anything that has been declared a "world health emergency" is something to worry about. If it's spread through physical contact, and this is a site all about (platonic) physical contact, I think it should be on people's radar. The first I really heard of COVID was 50 people infected in NYC, and look what happened.

TheFunCartel

How is monkeypox transmitted?
Monkeypox spreads primarily through direct contact with infectious sores, scabs, or body fluids, including during sex, as well as activities like kissing, hugging, massaging, and cuddling. Monkeypox can spread through touching materials used by a person with monkeypox that haven’t been cleaned, such as clothing, towels and bedding. It can also spread by respiratory secretions (talking, coughing, sneezing, breathing) during prolonged, close, face-to-face contact.

From this governmental health website:

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Monkeypox-Questions-and-Answers.aspx

Notice that cuddling, hugging and massaging someone with Monkeypox puts you at risk.

jaswbrown

@FunCartel and @JGalt Thanks for the links!

Additionally, they're finding the virus can live on porous surfaces (ie: sheets & towels) for 15 days...

https://cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/specific-settings/home-disinfection.html

Thanks for those of you who post links on this subject for the rest of us to learn.

Hmm, I just noticed that 3 states have declared a state of emergency over Monkeypox.

TNNative

I originated the post that eventually turned and was locked.

I appreciate the factual information posted here. I think we all are wise to consider the information and to take the necessary precautions based on individual/personal risk tolerance.

May we all remain well.

@TNNative Agreed

JGalt

@TNNNative Well said.

JohnfromVienna

Whether monkeypox is transmissible through semen or not unimportant. The virus might be present in semen long after it is no longer transmissible through other routes. Currently, the WHO recommends wearing a condom at least 12 weeks after recovery. Also, people might rely on other methods to prevent spreading during sex such as wearing a mask and a large bandage over the blister. If they don’t wear a condom as well, they might still get it if it is transmissible through semen. Finally, we don’t know what the probabilities of transmission are for each route. Breathing might be very low while anal sex might be very high. And if there are three routes of getting it and you’re exposed all three ways, it might increase your probability of getting it over being exposed to just two ways.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/29/well/how-is-monkeypox-spread.html
“The W.H.O. has also updated its guidance to recommend that those who have a confirmed or suspected monkeypox infection use condoms during sex for 12 weeks after they have completely recovered to reduce the risk of spreading monkeypox to partners.”

MrMarkAndrew

The number of people who have contracted it is statistically insignificant compared to the global population as a whole. You’ve got a better chance of being hit by lightning.

TheFunCartel

The number of people who have contracted it is statistically insignificant compared to the global population as a whole. You’ve got a better chance of being hit by lightning.

That can be said of any contagious or transmissible disease at its onset until it gains traction. So the quote is obvious and insignificant.

@FunCartel Exactly. COVID did not start out with a million people in the US getting it -- it was 50 here and 100 there. Takes time for these things to spread.

Mieyutag2020

This is not the place to insult other people. Don't do this again.

Shake

It's never stupid to be cautious. @Mieyutag2020 You don't have to fear a hot oven to think "yea, I'm not touching that." Caution is the most basic instinct we develop when we're kids. Avoid things that common sense dictates will either hurt us or make us sick. Nothing wrong with anyone who wants that same caution to Monkey Pox.

Mieyutag2020

Fear does more harm to your immune system and the rest of your body them anything else.

This is treading on the same nonsense that got the other thread locked. Please refrain from any arguments on this subject.

TheFunCartel

Fear does more harm to your immune system and the rest of your body them anything else.

Link?? Or is this just your opinion?

Mieyutag2020

It’s true.

Babichev

To say fear does more harm to the immune system than anything else is an unsupportable claim. Period. There is no way to demonstrate that. In order to support that claim you would have to test and compare every possibility on every single person an infinite number of times, which is not possible.

Living in a state of chronic fear suppresses the immune system, we know that. There are lots of other things that can suppress the immune system and, in some cases, pretty much destroy it. The fact is that our immune systems are not invulnerable. One can be healthy and still get sick.

Becoming informed and taking reasonable cautions based on the best information available at the time works in our favor, not against it.

CuddleDuncan

@Mieyutag2020 your unsubstantiated claim that 'fear does more harm to the immune system and the rest of your body than anything else' is false.

For example, there are a number of diseases that have 100% fatality rates. Fear does not have a 100% fatality rate. In fact I would guess that the fatality rate for fear is close to 0%. For instance the most frightened I ever was a brief moment of real terror: had it lasted two or three seconds longer my bowels would have emptied, which is a well known fear response. However, I didn't die.

This forum deals in facts and evidence. And truth. If you want to say things that are not true, this forum is not the best place to be. Regrettably I am unable to recommend a suitable alternative, due to ignorance.

Note that Cuddle Comfort is an international website and is not based in the USA. US social and political narratives do not always do well here because many of us do not know or care about them.

A working knowledge of monkeypox responses in both OECD and non-OECD countries will be useful to anybody wanting to make a significant contribution to this thread. I do not have that, I only only know about the fear thing.

Monkeypox is a very unpleasant disease, but the fatality rate is modest. On the face of things this is not consistent with the WHO response. This suggests, as a matter of logic, that the WHO has other concerns. I have no idea what those might be, but one possibility is that they are worried about the monkeypox virus mutating into a more dangerous form.

Mieyutag2020

Time out for 3 days for trolling. Stop it. - Babichev

CuddleDuncan

@Mieyutag2020 what narrative?

This is already devolving back into conflict like the other thread.

Can we all at least agree that, as things stand, despite how limited the number of cases of monkey pox there are and how much we know about it, that we're likely to find out more and that it has the potential to get worse, meaning that as with many things caution is a good approach to have regarding it both physically and intellectually?