Epidemiological, clinical and virological characteristics of four cases of monkeypox support transmission through sexual contact, Italy, May 2022
Istituto Nazionale per le Malattie Infettive Lazzaro Spallanzani · Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico · +3 more institutions
Abstract
Since May 2022, an outbreak of monkeypox has been ongoing in non-endemic countries. We report four cases in Italy in young adult men reporting condomless sexual intercourse. The patients are in good clinical condition with no need for specific antiviral drugs. Biological samples from seminal fluid were positive for monkeypox viral DNA. For many other viruses found in semen there is no evidence of sexual transmission. The possibility of sexual transmission of monkeypox virus needs to be investigated.
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 41.55
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 10
Authors
21- AAAndrea AntinoriCorresponding
Istituto Nazionale per le Malattie Infettive Lazzaro Spallanzani, Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico
- VMValentina Mazzotta
Istituto Nazionale per le Malattie Infettive Lazzaro Spallanzani, Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico
- SVSerena Vita
Istituto Nazionale per le Malattie Infettive Lazzaro Spallanzani, Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico
- FCFabrizio Carletti
Istituto Nazionale per le Malattie Infettive Lazzaro Spallanzani, Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico
- DTDanilo Tacconi
Ospedale San Donato
Topics & keywords
- Monkeypox
- Virology
- Transmission (telecommunications)
- Sexual transmission
- Epidemiology
- Outbreak
- Medicine
- Sexual intercourse
- Good health and well-being