As if you didn’t have enough to worry about with inflation, COVID, crime, and possible war dominating the news, now you have something new to keep you up at night: monkeypox. Despite the disease overwhelmingly occurring in men who have sex with other men, federal and state governments want you to be scared—You are really afraid.
California Governor Gavin Newsom is, of course, screaming as he raises the alarm. From the gov’s website Monday night:
As part of the state’s ongoing response to the monkeypox outbreak, Governor Gavin Newsom today declared a State of Emergency to bolster the state’s vaccination efforts. This proclamation is in support of the California Department of Public Health’s efforts to coordinate an all-government response to the monkeypox outbreak, to seek more vaccines, and to lead education and outreach on how to access vaccines.
Due to COVID, California remains in a 2-plus year State of Emergency. At this rate, it’s quite likely that the Golden State will be under a State of Emergency for one reason or another for the rest of eternity. Continued the announcement:
We’ll continue to work with the federal government to secure more vaccines, raise awareness about reducing risk, and stand with the LGBTQ community fighting stigmatization.
I have no interest in stigmatizing gay men or anyone else in the LGBTQ community (though I’m pretty sure that monkeypox is not showing up in many lesbians). However, I have a problem with the fact that those in power are faking the story to keep their untouchables safe. The situation with COVID was remarkably similar: for almost three years now they have been selling us a message that we’re all equally at risk from COVID—but it’s simply not true.
While they’ve stigmatized kids throughout the pandemic as deadly threats to their grandparents and teachers, the truth is that children were at little to no risk from the original Wuhan Flu, but the elderly and obese most certainly were. Last month actor Jon Cryer called children “unchecked vectors for a lethal infectious disease.”
Gov. Governor Gavin Newsom has declared Monkeypox Emergency. My next column will include the name of any public official or union leader that suggests closing these schools. All the best! pic.twitter.com/1OhrmxhgeL
— Susan Shelley (@Susan_Shelley) August 2, 2022
My dad friend told me that his 21 year old, heterosexual, monogamous, daughter arrived at him feeling pale and scared. “Dad, should I be worried about monkeypox?” No sweetie, sorry to be gross, but unless you’re actively having sex with gay men with open sores you should be fine. Today’s culture is one of fear and many once-respected health facilities seem to delight in selling it.
NPR reports that “the first California case of the current outbreak of monkeypox was confirmed May 25. The total count in the state is now 825, compared to 5,811 cases nationwide.” EMERGENCY!
The Washington Post explains how to get it.
Breaked skin, respiratory tract and mucous membranes can allow the pathogen to enter the body. The risk of infection may rise if there are more people involved in clubs, raves or saunas.
So, why do they try to terrorize the entire population while only a very small number engage in high-risk behavior? These behaviors are being promoted by authorities, rather than accurately reporting the dangers. They locked kids out of school for well over a year, but the geniuses in San Francisco think it’s too much to ask to postpone what is sure to be a massively carnal festival:
Dore, as well as monkeypox are here. Here are some ideas to reduce your risk, and still enjoy your favorite kink & fetish festival in San Francisco. #upyouralley #dorealley #monkeypox #mpx
— San Francisco AIDS Foundation (@SFAIDSFound) July 27, 2022
The Post also describes the most vulnerable:
While anyone can contract monkeypox in any part of the world, it is most common among men. In the endemic regions of Africa it was believed to be related to hunting. But in this current epidemic, men 21-44 years old are most likely to have had sex with other men or with multiple partners. Condom-less sex is also common. The primary transmission method in these cases is skin-toskin contact through sex.
How can small children be at such risk? Seems unlikely. The NY Times was quick to shame those who don’t spend their days freaking out over monkeypox:
Now if monkeypox gains a permanent foothold in the United States and becomes an endemic virus that joins our circulating repertoire of pathogens, it will be one of the worst public health failures in modern times not only because of the pain and peril of the disease but also because it was so avoidable.
Sorry, but it sounds a bit histrionic to me to say that a mostly non-lethal virus circulating among a small group of people is about to become one of “the worst public health failures in modern times.”
Monkeypox is real, and it doesn’t sound fun, even if it’s not particularly deadly. Everyone should take precautions, including not putting a Band-Aid on an open sore. Vaccines and other preventative measures should also be considered. However, the attempt to terrorize everyone in a COVID-weary population is ill advised. Protecting the vulnerable is something I believe strongly in, as should public health directors in blue-state governors in New York or Michigan during the first stages of the pandemic.
Do not try and scare off everyone who isn’t at greatest risk.
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