This Briefing Note is intended to provide sex workers and sex worker-led organisations with information about monkeypox, so that sex workers can make informed choices and decisions.
NSWP is acutely aware that this comes on top of sex workers all over the world having experienced hardship, a total loss of income and increased criminalisation and harassment due to the continuing extreme challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a criminalised population, sex workers have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, often living in precarious economic situations, and excluded from social protection systems.
The advent of another infectious disease with the potential to impact on sex workers raises similar issues and realities which must be recognised, for example:
- Sex workers will not often have the choice in whether they continue to work during outbreaks because of the lack of other sources of income;
- If exposed to, or infected with, monkeypox, isolating from others for prolonged periods of time will pose enormous challenges to sex workers;
- Contact tracing or sharing contact details with clients is often unrealistic, impractical, or unsafe for most sex workers;
- Criminalisation, stigma, and discrimination create additional barriers for sex workers when they access sexual and other health services. Identifying as a sex worker (or alternatively as a gay man) e.g., to gain access to a vaccine, if one is available for priority populations, can carry significant additional risks.
NSWP has worked with experts at the World Health Organization to provide sex workers with the best reliable, evidence-based, non-stigmatising information from trustworthy sources – so that they can protect themselves and their families and their loved ones.
Member organisations are encouraged to use the information contained in this Briefing Note and disseminate it widely. Organisations can adapt it to fit their local legal context, local vaccine and health service availability, and using different formats e.g., for specific sex work settings, or that best suit the way they interact with sex working communities.
Overview
An outbreak of monkeypox, a viral infectious disease, is currently being reported in countries where the disease had not been found before. The risk of monkeypox is not limited to any one community or any one place. Anyone who has close contact with someone who is infectious is at risk.
Outbreaks of monkeypox in newly affected countries have mostly been identified in communities of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men who have had recent sexual contact with a new partner or partners. Communities of trans and gender diverse people linked to the same sexual networks have also been affected.
We know that this outbreak is concerning, especially for people who are unwell, their partners, families, and communities, and for people whose work require close contact with others, including sex workers. Many sex workers will struggle financially if they are unable to work either by avoiding close contact with clients who have monkeypox or while isolating because they have suspected or confirmed monkeypox. This issue is likely to be particularly acute where these is no social protection or financial support available from their governments in their setting.
Some sex worker-led organisations established mutual aid schemes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Similar schemes may be possible in your country if organisations are beginning to develop emergency response funds for emerging health crises that prevent sex workers from earning an income. Identifying, establishing, and raising awareness about these schemes is essential to create an environment in which sex workers can protect themselves and others from transmission.
How to use this document
This document includes public health advice for sex workers of all genders on protecting themselves and others against monkeypox. It is intended for use by sex workers, sex worker-led organisations, community leaders, advocates, health service providers (especially those in sexual health service delivery) and organisations working to promote the health of sex workers.
The information in this document can be used as a basis for formal and informal community conversations, information sessions, or producing community information, to inform sex workers on how to protect themselves and others. The information included here can and should be adapted to the local context and sex work setting depending on the needs of the community.
Key points about monkeypox
– Monkeypox is a virus that can cause a rash, and other symptoms such as fever or body aches.
– Monkeypox can spread through touching, kissing, and oral, vaginal, and anal sex.
– To protect yourself and others:
- Know the symptoms and check yourself regularly
- Have open conversations with close contacts where it is safe to do so
- Avoid close contact with someone who has it
- Seek health advice and get tested if you have been exposed or have symptoms
- Isolate if you have monkeypox, whenever possible
- Get vaccinated if it is available to you
– Having or being exposed to monkeypox is nothing to be ashamed of. Anyone can get monkeypox. Let’s take care of each other and get rid of monkeypox together.