The ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa, now classified as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization, presents a severe challenge, particularly for vulnerable populations like sex workers. Despite the endemic presence of mpox in Africa since the 1970s, recent developments, including the emergence of a new clade Ib strain with increased transmissibility, have exacerbated the situation. Sex workers are at heightened risk due to their occupational exposure, compounded by stigma, criminalization, and limited access to healthcare. These factors significantly impede efforts to control the spread of the virus, leading to underreporting and inadequate intervention. This article highlights the urgent need for an inclusive public health response that prioritizes the health and safety of sex workers. Such a response should involve tailored health services, legal protections, and community engagement to ensure that this marginalized group is not overlooked. The decriminalization of sex work is also proposed as a critical public health measure to improve access to care and reduce stigma, ultimately curbing the spread of mpox in Africa.

中文翻译：

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非洲的性工作者和猴痘应对措施


非洲持续的猴痘疫情现已被世界卫生组织列为国际关注的突发公共卫生事件，这带来了严峻的挑战，尤其是对性工作者等弱势群体而言。尽管自 1970 年代以来 mpox 在非洲流行，但最近的发展，包括一种传播性增加的新分支 Ib 菌株的出现，加剧了这种情况。性工作者因其职业暴露而面临更高的风险，再加上污名化、刑事定罪和获得医疗保健的机会有限。这些因素严重阻碍了控制病毒传播的努力，导致报告不足和干预不足。本文强调了迫切需要采取包容性的公共卫生应对措施，优先考虑性工作者的健康和安全。这种应对措施应包括量身定制的医疗服务、法律保护和社区参与，以确保这一边缘化群体不被忽视。性工作合法化也被提议作为一项关键的公共卫生措施，以改善获得护理的机会并减少耻辱感，最终遏制猴痘在非洲的传播。