A Russian consumer protection official has claimed that mpox (monkeypox) won’t be a problem for the country due to its “traditional values” – specifically, its hostility towards LGBTQ+ individuals.
Anna Popova, head of the consumer watchdog agency Rospotrebnadzor, expressed confidence that Russia’s stance on LGBTQ+ issues would prevent the spread of mpox in the country. “Considering the specifics of how mpox is spread, I am absolutely sure that in Russia with its traditional values, this disease, which is an epidemic disease, is not something we need to be afraid of,” Popova said in a video posted Monday on the Russian Telegram channel Shot, as translated by *Politico*.
Mpox, during the 2022 outbreak, was primarily transmitted through sexual contact between gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. However, it is important to note that the disease is not exclusive to these groups, and others can also contract it.
Last week, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared mpox a global health emergency again, citing an outbreak of the severe Clade I strain in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring African countries. However, there have been no reported cases of Clade I in the U.S., and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has stated that the risk remains very low. HHS continues to recommend vaccination for those at high risk.
WHODirector-Generall Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the need for a “coordinated international response” to stop the outbreaks and save lives. However, Russian officials seem unconcerned about the threat posed by mpox.
“Russia is taking all necessary measures to detect the infection ahead of time and systematically… The situation is under constant control; there is no threat of the disease spreading in Russia,” Rospotrebnadzor announced last week.
In the video, Popova mentioned that there had been only three cases of mpox in Russia. “For Russia, this does not present a danger. … We’re not expecting it to spread; it won’t happen,” she stated.
Russia has implemented several anti-LGBTQ+ measures, including the “gay propaganda” law enacted in 2013, which prohibits LGBTQ+ content in venues accessible to minors. In 2022, the law was extended to apply to adults as well. Last year, the Russian Supreme Court classified the “international LGBT social movement” as “extremist,” effectively banning LGBTQ+ activism in the country. Additionally, the nation has outlawed gender-affirming surgery, with President Vladimir Putin calling the acceptance of transgender people a “crime against humanity.”
 won't be a problem for the country due to its "traditional values" - specifically, its hostility towards LGBTQ+ individuals.){kind=link}