Top 5 Takeaways

1. Significant Impact of One-Time Partnerships: Despite accounting for less than 3% of total daily partnerships, one-time sexual partnerships are responsible for approximately 50% of daily Monkeypox virus transmission among MSM.
2. Reduction in Transmission Through Behavioral Changes: A 40% reduction in one-time partnerships could delay the spread of monkeypox and reduce the percentage of infected persons by 20% to 31%.
3. Use of Dynamic Network Models: CDC utilized dynamic network modeling, previously applied to HIV and gonorrhea, to understand MPXV spread among MSM, highlighting the critical role of sexual behavior in transmission dynamics.
4. Impact of Sexual Activity Strata: The risk of acquiring monkeypox varies significantly across different strata of sexual activity, with men having more than one partner in the preceding 3 weeks facing up to 6.9 times higher risk compared to those with only one partner.
5. Public Health Implications: Reductions in one-time partnerships, along with vaccination and other mitigation measures, could significantly reduce MPXV transmission, providing crucial insights for tailoring public health interventions.

Note:

This MMWR Article was created prior to the conventional renaming of Monkeypox to its more standard and appropriate name, Mpox. To avoid confusion, Monkeypox is retained when writing this article, but all future works should use Mpox.

Original Article Author and Citation

Corresponding Author

Thomas L. Gift, teg5@cdc.gov.

Suggested Citation

Spicknall IH, Pollock ED, Clay PA, et al. Modeling the Impact of Sexual Networks in the Transmission of Monkeypox virus Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men — United States, 2022. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022;71:1131-1135. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7135e2.

Summary

The MMWR article discusses the modeling of sexual infection transmission among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) in the context of the 2022 monkeypox outbreak in the United States. It highlights the disproportionate role of one-time sexual partnerships in the spread of Monkeypox virus (MPXV) and the potential impact of behavioral changes on reducing transmission.

Methods

The CDC adapted dynamic network models, originally developed for HIV and gonorrhea, to simulate sexual behaviors among MSM and their effect on MPXV transmission. These models consider various types of partnerships and are informed by data on sexual behavior among MSM in Atlanta, Georgia. The simulation explored the effects of reducing one-time partnerships on the spread of MPXV.

Discussion

The findings underscore the significant impact of one-time partnerships on MPXV transmission and suggest that behavioral changes, already being reported by MSM, could lead to substantial reductions in transmission. The modeling predicts that a 40% decrease in one-time partnerships could lead to a 20%-31% reduction in the percentage of MSM infected and delay the outbreak’s spread.

Conclusion

The study highlights the importance of sexual network dynamics in the transmission of MPXV among MSM and provides valuable insights for public health interventions. It suggests that behavioral changes, especially reductions in one-time sexual partnerships, can have a significant impact on controlling the spread of monkeypox.