Monkeypox: a challenge for and to geographers

The World Health Organisation declared the 2022 Monkeypox outbreak a ‘Public Health Emergency of International Concern’, following the rapid spread of infections in non-endemic countries. Unlike its usual epidemiology in Africa, most cases reported since May 2022 have been among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). This commentary provides an overview of the current Monkeypox outbreak and public health responses to it, drawing out their uneven geographies and the contribution geographers could make to understanding this. The empirical focus is on Monkeypox in England, but the challenges posed are relevant to the dynamics of the outbreak in the USA and Europe. The commentary concludes by challenging geographers to collaborate across sub-disciplinary boundaries to undertake research that can understand and explain not only the specific dynamics of Monkeypox but also broader geographical aspects of GBMSM's lives that could underpin effective public health work with these populations.

Short Abstract

This commentary provides an overview of the 2022 global Monkeypox outbreak and public health responses to it, drawing out their uneven geographies and the contribution geographers could make to understanding this. The empirical focus is on Monkeypox in England, but the challenges posed are relevant to the dynamics of the outbreak in the USA and Europe. The commentary concludes by challenging geographers to collaborate across sub-disciplinary boundaries to undertake research that can understand and explain not only the specific dynamics of Monkeypox, but also broader geographical aspects of gay and bisexual men's lives that could underpin effective public health work with these populations.