[New York Diary] Silence Over Fear of Stigmatization... U.S. Struggles as Monkeypox Spreads

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] On the 21st of last month (local time), a long line formed from early morning in Chelsea, Manhattan, New York. This was because people flocked as soon as the news broke that the first clinic in New York to administer the monkeypox vaccine had opened. There was no prior announcement at the New York City level, and even the application was down, so there was no promotion at all. However, those who heard the news through social networking services (SNS) such as Twitter and Instagram rushed to Chelsea, and the 1,000 doses of vaccine prepared by New York City quickly ran out.

David Fork, who lives in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, happened to visit the clinic at the time and saw hundreds of people gathering and a long line forming in less than 30 minutes. He said, "I thought they were giving out gifts (not a vaccination waiting line)," and added, "It seemed the staff were as shocked as I was," describing the atmosphere. The city health authorities plan to secure 6,000 doses soon and accept new reservations.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

As the global spread of monkeypox intensifies, the United States has also begun full-scale response measures.

According to local U.S. media on the 3rd, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has activated the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) just like during COVID-19, and the government decided to immediately supply five times the existing amount (a total of 56,000 doses) of vaccines. The CDC initially recommended vaccination only for those confirmed by authorities to have been exposed to monkeypox, but from now on, vaccination will be recommended even for contacts not confirmed by authorities.

This is a response to the fact that the weekly number of confirmed cases in the U.S. has nearly doubled in the past week. According to the CDC, 460 monkeypox infections were confirmed in the U.S. during the week ending on the 1st. By state, California had the highest number with 95 cases, followed by New York with 90. Illinois (53) and Florida (51) also exceeded 50 cases.

In particular, more than 20% of nationwide monkeypox cases have been confirmed in New York City, New York State. Previously, during the COVID-19 outbreak, New York, which became the epicenter with thousands of confirmed cases and hundreds of deaths daily, is now showing signs of emerging as a major hotspot for monkeypox.

It is notable that monkeypox vaccination began first in the Chelsea area of New York ahead of the annual 'Pride Month' parade held at the end of June, and that there was no public promotion by authorities. This is closely related to the fact that most monkeypox infections are linked to sexual contact between men. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 99% of infected individuals are men, and the majority are men who have sex with men.

Manhattan's Chelsea, where vaccination first started, along with nearby Greenwich Village, is considered a center of the global LGBTQ+ rights movement. It is also the area where large-scale parades are held every June during Pride Month. Accordingly, the need to provide guidance to the LGBTQ+ community centered in this area was significant.

However, since it could potentially promote homophobia, both health authorities and LGBTQ+ organizations reportedly struggled over how to promote monkeypox prevention. This is because backlash against stigmatization is inevitable. The Washington Post (WP) reported that U.S. health authorities are considering this issue, citing the example of Salt Lake County, Utah. The county tried to inform that men who have sex with men have a higher risk of monkeypox infection, but concerns were raised that people might hide their infection status to avoid revealing their sexual orientation.

The reason New York City did not properly promote vaccination even while starting it in the LGBTQ+ dense Chelsea area is interpreted similarly. Recently, not only the Joe Biden administration but also state government officials have been particularly cautious when mentioning the connection to sexual contact between men in relation to monkeypox. New York City health authorities, immediately after the vaccine ran out, expressed it indirectly by saying, "This demand is further evidence of how proactive the LGBTQ+ community and all New Yorkers are about health and healthcare."

Stopping community transmission of monkeypox is also a challenge. In Europe, already called the 'epicenter of spread,' infections, which had been mainly among young men, are rapidly spreading to children and adolescents. The WHO Infection Prevention Committee emphasized, "Monkeypox is not limited to men who have sex with men," and "Anyone who has had close contact with an infected person is at risk of infection." The misconception that heterosexuals are safe is also dangerous.

Meanwhile, concerns are pouring in within the U.S. that stigmatizing confirmed cases could become an obstacle to quarantine efforts. If suspected infected individuals hide during the process of blaming a specific group as the source of infection, early quarantine itself becomes difficult. Also, just as hate crimes against Asians increased in the U.S. after the COVID-19 outbreak, there is a high possibility of inciting other hate crimes.