'Keep your clothes on': CDC issues BIZARRE guidelines on how to have SEX if you have monkeypox
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this month issued a list of safe activities for sexually active patients to engage in. CDC mentioned in the guidelines list that those who are infected with the monkeypox virus should avoid intimate contact and sex because the monkeypox virus could be spread in close contact. Among the recommendations, are avoiding kissing and “having sex with your clothes on or covering areas where rash or sores are present.”
According to the CDC, "Monkeypox is rare and does not spread easily between people without close contact. The threat of monkeypox to the general US population remains LOW." The World Health Organization began investigating if monkeypox could be sexually transmitted after the virus was detected in a patient’s semen.
RELATED ARTICLES
Can monkeypox be treated? US reports first case of the rare disease in Massachusetts
How dangerous is monkeypox? Dallas man hospitalized with rare disease in first US case since 2003
What is monkeypox and how does it spread?
Monkeypox is a virus that is rare in the United States and is often a flu-like illness. The illness—although not usually serious—can result in hospitalization or death. "Monkeypox is a disease that can make you sick, including a rash, which may look like pimples or blisters", the report stated. It further mentioned various ways through which the virus can spread including:
1. "Direct contact with monkeypox rash, sores, or scabs from a person with monkeypox."
2. "Contact with objects, fabrics (clothing, bedding, or towels), and surfaces that have been used by someone with monkeypox."
3. "Contact with respiratory secretions, through kissing and another face-to-face contact."
4. "Oral, anal, and vaginal sex or touching the genitals (penis, testicles, labia, and vagina) or anus (butt) of a person with monkeypox."
5. "Hugging, massage, and kissing."
6. "Touching fabrics and objects during sex that were used by a person with monkeypox and that have not been
disinfected, such as bedding, towels, fetish gear, and sex toys."
What are the symptoms?
As per the CDC guidelines, the symptoms of Monkeypox begin to appear within 2 weeks of infection. Patients experience a flu-like illness and swelling of the lymph nodes before developing a rash on their face and body. The initial symptoms might include flu, fever, headache, muscle aches and backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, or exhaustion. But after 2-3 days rashes start to develop on the body. Rashes and sores may be located near or on the genitals. These sores look like pimples or blisters and are often itchy or painful. However, the symptoms can vary from person to person. As per the report, some people only developed rashes and sores. But, not fever. Whereas, for some, it was the other way.
How to lower the risk of Monkeypox during sex?
CDC also shared a long list of recommendations and precautions that can be taken during sex to avoid the spread of the virus. CDC suggested bizarre ways of having sex with monkeypox that included the following:
1. "Having virtual sex with no in-person contact."
2. "Masturbating together at a distance of at least 6 feet, without touching each other and without touching any rash or sores."
3. "Having sex with your clothes on or covering areas where rash or sores are present, reducing as much skin-to-skin contact as possible."
4." By avoiding kissing"
5. "Washing hands, fetish gear, sex toys, and any fabrics (bedding, towels, clothing) after having sex."
According to the New York State Department of Health, "as of June 16, 2022, a total of 21 confirmed orthopoxvirus/monkeypox cases have been identified with 19 in New York City, 1 in Sullivan County, and 1 in Westchester County."