52% of people confirmed to have monkeypox are living with HIV – WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says 52 percent of people confirmed to have mpox (monkeypox) are living with HIV.

The organisation said this on Thursday in a statement commemorating World AIDS Day 2022.

World AIDS Day is marked on December 1 and this year’s theme is: ‘Equalise to End AIDS: Equal Access to Treatment and Prevention Services’.

The WHO, in its statement, said HIV remains a major public health issue with 5.9 million people who know they have HIV not receiving treatment.

“A further 4 million people living with HIV have not yet been diagnosed,” the statement reads.

“While 76 percent of adults overall were receiving antiretroviral treatment that helps them lead normal and healthy lives, only 52 percent of children living with HIV were accessing this treatment globally in 2021.

“70 percent of new HIV infections are among people who are marginalised and often criminalised.”