In a podcast published by The Washington Post on June 16, the hosts discussed the concern of an mpox outbreak during the annual International Mr. Leather convention in Chicago. The convention was at the center of a large outbreak last year, raising concern for another occurrence. According to the CDC, the mpox virus spreads through sexual contact, and experts say gay men may be more prone to contracting it. Earlier this spring, The Chicago Department of Public Health recorded 31 infections new mpox infections; this raised concern because two-thirds of the cases occurred in fully vaccinated people. During this year’s convention, health officials and LGBTQ+ organizations sought to vaccinate attendees and raise awareness at the event to avoid new infections Health workers at the convention reported that they vaccinated 37 people at the International Mr. Leather. Experts applauded the gay community for taking action to derail the virus through behavioral change and promoting vaccination.
July 07, 2023