Monkeypox is spreading and so far mainly among men. The infectiologist Johannes Bogner on parallels and differences to the early HIV epidemic, stigmatization of those affected and the importance of sexual networks in this outbreak.
Professor Bogner, almost 40 years ago you witnessed the beginnings of the HIV epidemic and treated patients who were infected at an early stage. What did you think of when it became apparent that men who had sex with men in particular were infected with monkeypox? I was immediately worried about my patients, because many of them belong to this risk group. The impulse to warn them quickly developed from this. Because when they have sex with different partners they do not know, they run the risk of becoming infected. We discussed this very early on with those who were particularly at risk.
