Why calling monkeypox an STD is about more than just a label

CNN — A hallmark of the ongoing monkeypox outbreak is that most cases have been linked to sexual activity, and this has prompted some debate around whether to describe the illness as a sexually transmitted disease. You can also get it through non-intimate contact.” David Harvey, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors, said he and his colleagues refer to monkeypox as a “sexually associated” infection for now. “We need the science that shows definitively that this is an infection that can be passed by semen or genital fluids, and the science on that is not quite clear yet, which is why we’re calling this sexually associated.” What makes an STD STDs, also known as sexually transmitted infections or STIs, are infections that are passed from one person to another through sexual contact such as vaginal, oral or anal sex. “Experts generally determine, scientifically, if a pathogen can be transmitted through sex, in which case it’s called ‘sexually transmissible.’ And how frequently the infection is referred to as an STI relates to the proportion of transmissions accounted for by sex vs some other route – but there is no ‘rubric’that is used to guide this determination.” She said monkeypox can be described more accurately as “sexually transmissible,” as sex is one of the ways the virus can spread – but not the only way. “And so, for those of us who work in this field on a full-time basis and deal with these issues every day in and out, we want to do everything we can to break down stigma, especially in relation to sexually transmitted infections, so that we’re ensuring people get tested and treated free of shame or fear.” Get CNN Health's weekly newsletter Sign up here to get The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta every Tuesday from the CNN Health team.