AHF joins CDC and local health departments in tracking new cases of highly transmissible infection and urging vaccination

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world’s largest HIV and AIDS healthcare organization, is seeing a reemergence of monkeypox (now known as mpox) and is encouraging anyone at high risk of contracting the infection to take the recommended precautions. AHF Wellness Centers recently have identified two positive cases in Los Angeles.

Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men are at high risk—particularly those who in the past six months received a new sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnosis or had more than one sex partner. Monkeypox can lead to severe outcomes for individuals with weakened immune systems, including people living with untreated or advanced HIV. During the 2022 outbreak, there were 38 deaths associated with monkeypox in the US.

Monkeypox, which should be classified as an STI because its transmission is similar to that of other STIs like syphilis, most commonly is spread through skin-to-skin contact. Safer sex best practices, like using a condom, can reduce the risk of contracting monkeypox. At the same time, full vaccine coverage is critical to curbing the spread of monkeypox. Only 23% of people who would have benefitted from vaccination following the 2022 outbreak received the full two-dose series.

“AHF will continue to partner with local health departments and community-based organizations to promote ongoing awareness, testing and treatment services, and vaccination efforts,” said Alexander Goncalvez, AHF Senior Director of Public Health. “With Pride events and other large-crowd summer celebrations just around the corner, it’s important people know their risks and take precautions to protect themselves and others.”

To learn more about monkeypox, visit AHF’s Monkeypox Information website.

About AHF

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world’s largest HIV/AIDS healthcare organization, provides cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to more than 1.7 million individuals in 45 countries in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region, and Eastern Europe. To learn more about AHF, visit us online at AIDShealth.org, find us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and subscribe to our Ahfter Hours podcast.

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With Pride events and other large-crowd summer celebrations just around the corner, it’s important people know their risks for possible exposure to monkeypox and take precautions to protect themselves and others.