The 'villification' of gay people in the HIV and AIDS crisis must never happen again, a Manchester councillor has said - as more monkeypox cases are found among gay and bisexual men, although none have been in the north west. Labour councillor Pat Karney urged the town hall to challenge disinformation about the disease, which has seen 71 cases identified across the country so far.
He raised concerns that the narrative about gay people perpetuated during the HIV and AIDS pandemic will be repeated as news of monkeypox emerges. Manchester's health scrutiny committee was told the virus was 'endemic' in parts of Western Central Africa, but is now spreading to other countries.
There have been no cases of monkeypox in the north west to date, but data suggests gay and bisexual have been particularly affected by the spread so far.
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Coun Karney said: "The name itself is scary and excites anxiety and attention. Many of us have been through this journey before. It was about monkeys and animals in Africa, gay people, HIV and AIDS. We have to learn the lessons from that period in terms of the linkages made on what is basically a health issue.
"Gay people were vilified and targeted as carriers of diseases from Africa in the early days. If anyone saw Russell Davies' It's A Sin , even large sections of the medical establishment pulled away from treating gay people in a proper and professional manner.
"Never again. Let us learn. This council has to be upfront about challenging any of the scaremongering, any of the targeting, any of the vilification of any of our communities.
"It's got to challenge the disinformation. We live in a disinformation age. We can never again repeat what went on in the narrative about HIV and AIDS."
Manchester's director of public health David Regan told the committee that the council has been working with voluntary organisations in the LGBT community.
He said: "We know there are lots of anxieties out there about monkeypox, but just to reassure the public, the general risks to public health are low. We are finding out more and more about the transmission routes and we know that so far gay and bisexual men in particular have been affected, but we've also seen a small number of other cases of community transmission.
"We're looking into all 71 cases nationally, learning more. It's also emerging in other countries. It was endemic in parts of Western Central Africa, but clearly we're seeing a spread in a number of countries.
"The good news for us in Manchester is we've got some well established teams and systems to respond to the emerging situation and also we've got the benefit of an excellent regional infectious diseases unit at North Manchester General and our sexual health services which are now all under Manchester University Hospitals Foundation Trust. So from a clinical point of view, in terms of detecting cases and treatment, we've got some of then best expertise in the country."
