Why calling monkeypox an STD is about more than just a label - CNN

You can also get it through non-intimate contact."

David Harvey, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors, said he and his colleagues refer to monkeypox as a "sexually associated" infection for now.

"With the data that is available now, we know that the primary mode of transmission is sexually associated -- contact that is of a sexual nature.

Technically, a sexually transmitted infection is defined as an exchange of genital fluid that have a virus or bacteria that is associated with a sexually transmitted infection," Harvey said.

"We need the science that shows definitively that this is an infection that can be passed by semen or genital fluids, and the science on that is not quite clear yet, which is why we're calling this sexually associated."

What makes an STD

STDs, also known as sexually transmitted infections or STIs, are infections that are passed from one person to another through sexual contact such as vaginal, oral or anal sex.

"Experts generally determine, scientifically, if a pathogen can be transmitted through sex, in which case it's called 'sexually transmissible.' And how frequently the infection is referred to as an STI relates to the proportion of transmissions accounted for by sex vs some other route -- but there is no 'rubric' that is used to guide this determination."

She said monkeypox can be described more accurately as "sexually transmissible," as sex is one of the ways the virus can spread -- but not the only way.

"Sex is a human behavior.

If stigma wasn't associated with infections transmitted through sex, there would be less concern of implications for saying monkeypox is an STI for people who are more heavily impacted," Nordlund wrote.

Scientists are still researching whether monkeypox can be spread through semen or vaginal fluids.

Although the risk is low, there is also some potential for the virus to spread through items or surfaces like clothing, bedding or towels that were used by someone with monkeypox.

Mathew said the skin lesions caused by a monkeypox infection actually could be mistaken for a common STD like herpes or syphilis, and in some cases, a person with monkeypox could have coinfections with common sexually transmitted diseases.

When he treated his first monkeypox patient in Atlanta, Mathew immediately noticed that the person had the typical lesions on his face.

"We cannot allow the same form of inaccurate information to guide our public health practice today."

Harvey, of the National Coalition of STD Directors, said that stigma is something STD clinics combat daily and he worries about the monkeypox outbreak being stigmatized in the context of it being a sexually associated disease.

"We don't want people to dismiss this as a sexually transmitted infection, but at some level, this buys into the stigma of sexually transmitted infections," he said.

"And so, for those of us who work in this field on a full-time basis and deal with these issues every day in and out, we want to do everything we can to break down stigma, especially in relation to sexually transmitted infections, so that we're ensuring people get tested and treated free of shame or fear."

Overall, whether or not monkeypox is designated an STD, Harvey said the response to the outbreak is weighing down STD clinics.

"STI and sexual health clinics across the country are bearing the brunt of responding to testing and treatment needs right now -- and they don't have additional funding to handle the influx of patients.