Gay porn star Silver Steele reveals battle with monkey pox that could leave him scarred for life
Warning: Graphic content, readers' discretion advised
HOUSTON, TEXAS: Silver Steele, a Texas gay porn star, who was diagnosed with monkeypox, has now shared a sequence of disturbing selfies documenting the progression of his painful symptoms. Steele posted a "timeline" series of photos to his Instagram account on August 4 that included nine photos taken on different days to show how the horrific sores on his face changed shape and size.
“My goal with this is not to gross anyone out — but to educate,” Steele captioned the uneasily shaky composite post of his battle with monkeypox. “Not everyone displays symptoms the exact same way, but I’ve been told by more than one professional that my case is a ‘clinically perfect’ example and it’s being used in CDC demonstrations and medical journals.” The Houston-based performer claims he first noticed blisters on his chin on July 11, mistaking the bumps for "razor burn."
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When the lesions grew larger and took on a yellowish tinge, he realized he'd contracted monkeypox. Stelle documented the "agonising" blisters on his chin for three weeks, documenting how they grew larger day by day. The composite depicts the lesions at their worst 11 days after they first appeared on his skin. It also shows that it took more than three weeks for the symptoms to go away completely.
Earlier this month, the United States declared monkeypox a public health threat following an outbreak in Europe this spring, it spread across the country. According to NYU biologist Joseph Osmundson, the virus is currently primarily affecting gay and bisexual men, who account for approximately 98% of patients.
Steele revealed in the comments section of his post that the pain was so severe during the high point of his monkeypox battle that he was prescribed Vicodin. He also stated that he tried contact tracing but is still unsure when or from whom he contracted the virus. “These lesions can be very painful, others have them on their genitals, or anorectal area, making going to the bathroom excruciating,” he further explained. "If you know someone suffering from this, reach out and check on them because they may be feeling really alone. A kind word goes a long way.”
The adult entertainer added, “This is a droplet virus so it spreads by kissing, sharing drinks, or even touching someone who has lesions/blisters on their skin! Use lots of hand sanitizer, wave hello instead of hugs and kisses, and be cautious at crowded events, especially ones where people are sweating!”
"So proud of you for sharing this vulnerable experience," one fan said. "I'm glad you're feeling better! You've done an incredible job of spreading the word and educating people." Steele has since been vaccinated and hopes to have only minor scarring on his face. He has since been immunized against monkeypox and is encouraging other gay and bisexual men to do the same.
Monkeypox outbreak in the US
According to epidemiological forecasters, at least 11,700 cases of suspected monkeypox have been reported in the United States, with another 1,000 cases expected to be added next week. Following an outbreak in June, New York City is one of the nation's illness epicenters, with over 2,295 cases.
Simultaneously, the World Health Organization has reported over 36,000 cases of the disease. Dr John Whyte, chief medical officer of WebMD, told The New York Post that doctors “are still learning about it,” but reassured patients of their worst fears. “We haven’t known [the current outbreak] to be fatal. And that’s a good thing,” Whyte said.