As monkeypox cases rise across the world so is the misinformation around the virus. US-based pediatrician and clinical immunologist, Zachary Rubin, has been fighting medical fake news on TikTok since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Recently, he turned his attention to debunking monkeypox myths.
There are now more than 780 cases in non-endemic countries around the world of monkeypox – a viral disease similar to smallpox but much less deadly.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says that the risk posed by monkeypox to global health is “moderate” but the outbreak has contributed to the spread of online rumours and conspiracy theories, similar to those that circulated about COVID-19.
Since the coronavirus pandemic began, Dr Rubin has debunked a lot of medical misinformation spreading on social media. He now has a following of over 160,000 followers on TikTok.
Dr Rubin has posted videos like the one below, debunking false claims that monkeypox only affects LGBTQI people.
The vast majority of infections detected so far are in gay and bisexual men after sexual encounters.
But health officials confirm that anyone, regardless of their sexual orientation, is potentially at risk of catching monkeypox if they are in close contact with a patient, their clothing or their bed sheets.
For Dr Rubin these sorts claims can be so dangerous and marginalising towards certain communities.
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