Photo: Getty Images
When HIV/AIDS appeared over 40 years ago in the U.S., The New York Times called it a “gay cancer.” Public concern was dampened by the perception that the disease only affected gay men.
Dr. Stephaun Wallace, Epidemiologist with Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, who works on vaccines, infectious disease, HIV and AIDS and LGBTQ+ health, among other areas, said the current misperception about Monkeypox could lead to the rest of the public believing it is not at risk. If people think they aren’t at risk for a disease, they are less likely to learn about it and take measures to prevent it.
Listen to Lee Callahan's interview with Dr. Stephaun Wallace here: