GLAAD RESPONDS TO U.S. SURPASSING 20,000 CASES OF MONKEYPOX (MPV) AND NEW DATA SHOWING IMPACT OF MPV ON PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV

GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, is responding to reports that the United States has surpassed 20,000 cases of monkeypox (MPV), more than any other country, as well as new CDC data showing impact of MPV on people living with HIV.

The CDC has been tracking MPV cases since the current outbreak began in May 2022. As of Wednesday, September 7, there are 56,000 documented MPV cases globally and 21,500 cases in the U.S., with the highest number of cases in California, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, and New York. Anyone can get MPV, but the vast majority of U.S. cases are among gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men. 

GLAAD’s MPV news and resource page: /mpv

Factsheet for media covering the MPV outbreak and response: /MPVfacts

According to a CDC report published September 8, MPV is disproportionately impacting people living with HIV and people who were recently diagnosed with an STI. People with HIV also reported higher rates of MPV-related hospitalization than people without HIV. The CDC now recommends that JYNNEOS vaccine efforts prioritize people with HIV and other STIs.

Last week, the Biden administration requested an additional $3.9 billion in federal funding to bolster its MPV response. It is unclear whether Congress will approve this request, although some Republican lawmakers have signaled early resistance. Limits on MPV testing, vaccine distribution, and publicly available data have made it difficult to gauge the scope of this ongoing outbreak and combat its spread.

STATEMENT FROM SARAH KATE ELLIS, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF GLAAD: 

“There are now more MPV cases in the United States than anywhere else in the world, and LGBTQ Americans and people living with HIV continue to be disproportionately impacted. Now more than ever, policymakers and public health officials must join forces to combat the spread of MPV. Increased testing capacity, equitable vaccine access, and accurate, transparent data are all crucial, and additional funding from Congress must sustain these efforts.”

Public health officials continue to emphasize their commitment to tracking and combating the spread of MPV. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has launched a series of pilot programs to bring the JYNNEOS vaccine directly to communities most at risk of MPV exposure, including LGBTQ Americans. On September 7, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also issued its first Emergency Use Authorization for a new MPV diagnostic test as part of a series of actions to expand MPV testing capacity.

Although the U.S. has more MPV cases than any other country, there are signs that the outbreak could be slowing down. As of September 6, more than 461,000 doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine have been administered throughout the country. Many Americans who have already had one dose of the JYNNEOS vaccine are already able to or will soon be able to obtain their second dose.

Skin-to-skin contact during sex appears to be the primary mode of MPV transmission in this outbreak. As a result, many gay and bi men have also reported temporarily altering their personal behaviors to protect themselves and their partners from MPV. Reducing your number of sex partners, reducing one-time sexual encounters, and talking to your partners about any potential MPV symptoms can help prevent transmission.