Yes. They are falsely portrayed as having monkeypox on social media, due to marks on the skin. They suffer the consequences. But no, they are not. With the rise in the number of monkeypox cases around the world, the misinformation surrounding it is growing. And this is not without risks.
Posted at 6:19 p.m.
A few days ago, Lilly Simon boarded a New York subway car, as she does regularly. Another user takes the photograph. And he posts a picture of herself on TikTok showing small bumps on her legs hinting that she might have monkeypox. The video goes viral and quickly gets several million views.
PHOTO FROM TIKTOK
A user posts a photo of Lilly Simon showing small bumps on her legs on TikTok, hinting that she may have monkeypox.
Directly targeted and discriminated against, the young woman shortly after published a video on the same network in which she denies the false news: no, she is not infected with the virus which is the subject of constant monitoring by the World Organization. (WHO), but rather neurofibromatosis type 1, a disease causing the formation of benign tumors that leave marks on the skin.
“I will not let anyone reverse the years of healing and therapy that I have had to endure to cope with the disease and, of course, to exist around people like you,” says Lilly Simon in one line in the video, before insisting: “I have come a long way and I like myself. »
Just recently, a young Spaniard was also the victim of misinformation surrounding monkeypox when a user describing himself as a doctor also posted a photo of his legs. Again, “MARM” – as he identifies himself on social networks – had to set the record straight: it is neurofibromatosis that forms these marks on his skin. And he’s been dealing with them for years.
“It’s completely useless”
For the professor specializing in immunology and virology at the National Institute for Scientific Research (INRS), Alain Lamarre, the use of misinformation – in a context of high health vigilance – greatly harms the cause.
“The worst thing here is that monkeypox is not transmitted like that, by rubbing shoulders with someone on the subway. Even if we were really talking about a case of monkeypox, it takes close, prolonged contact with bodily fluids or from pustules,” explains Mr. Lamarre.
There would be no reason to spread such information, even if it were real cases of monkeypox.
Alain Lamarre, professor specializing in immunology and virology at the National Institute for Scientific Research
He adds that the situation “is infuriating, because it is completely unnecessary”. “If the intention of these users is to protect others, it is because they are very badly informed. This has significant consequences for people who become victims of bullying or harassment,” continues Mr. Lamarre.
Benoit Barbeau, virologist and professor in the department of biological sciences at UQAM, agrees. “This kind of content, it illustrates a certain fear. And I think that kind of reflects what we’ve been through with COVID-19. We’re possibly transposing all of this onto a new virus. And people imagine all kinds of things. But the reality is that it mostly takes close contact. Otherwise, the number of cases of monkeypox would increase much more dizzyingly, ”he reasons.
More educational content
Fortunately, other content posted on social media has been more transparent lately. This is the case of user Matt Ford, suffering from simian pox, who this week published a video where he explains what his fight against the virus entails in front of around 1.4 million subscribers.
“I had to go to my doctor and take painkillers just to be able to fall asleep. It’s really, really painful,” he said, citing “intense flu symptoms, sore throat, cough, fever.”
“The reason I’m bringing this up is because I tweeted about it and it started blowing up,” Ford continued.
It’s one thing to know there’s an outbreak of monkeypox, but it’s another to know exactly what it means to someone’s body, and in particular what it means if it happens. to a friend or to you.
Matt Ford, stricken with monkeypox
“If you can get this vaccine, go get it. In the meantime, be careful, ”he insists.
The most common symptoms of monkeypox are indeed fever, headache, muscle pain, but also back pain, swollen lymph nodes, chills and fatigue. Rashes can also occur, often on the face, and spread to other parts of the body, including the genitals. Note also that monkeypox can sometimes be confused with a sexually transmitted infection.