As mpox rates are slowly starting to climb again after a surge and swift fall in 2022, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is joining forces with social networking app Grindr to help boost understanding of this infectious disease for the LGBTQI+ communities in the Americas.
PAHO will work with Grindr “to tackle misinformation on mpox and address critical information gaps—particularly around prevention, treatment, and care,” according to a May 4 press release. The "groundbreaking initiative" will focus on LGBTQI+ communities, who are disproportionately affected by the disease.
Monkeypox, renamed mpox last year to reduce the stigma of the disease, is an infectious disease that is from a similar family of viruses as smallpox but is rarely fatal.
It can, however, cause a very painful rash, fever and fatigue that can last for several weeks. The disease generally had only been seen in western Africa, but last year there was an unprecedented spread around the globe, with the majority of cases coming from men who have sex with men.
PAHO said its partnership with Grindr is to help “support non-discriminatory and non-stigmatizing communication activities around the virus.”
“When it comes to public health, it is crucial that we meet people where they are most comfortable, with the tools they already use in their day-to-day lives,” said Ruben Mayorga-Sagastume, chief of the HIV, hepatitis, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted infections unit and incident manager for mpox at PAHO, in the release.
“Clear and concise information on measures that people can take to protect their health is key to controlling and preventing outbreaks of infectious disease,” he added. “We welcome this opportunity to work with Grindr to provide this information where it is needed the most.”
Steph Niaupari, Grindr's equality outreach manager, added: “Our communities can best care for themselves when they have as much information as possible. This is a crucial step to addressing the societal stigma and gaps in care around mpox, which disproportionately affects LGBTQ people. We are glad to work with PAHO and serve Grindr users throughout the Americas.”
To date, almost 60,000 confirmed cases of mpox and 116 deaths have been reported in 41 countries and territories of the Americas.
Cases of mpox fell quickly last year after a swift surge in May. The World Health Organization said earlier this month that cases appear to be rebounding in some countries with diagnoses “increasing slightly” in eight countries.