Fulton County Health Officials Warn Mpox Isn’t Just in the Past
July 29, 2025
Mpox remains a persistent concern in Fulton County, Georgia, despite reduced national attention since the 2022 outbreak. Fulton reported 48 new cases between July 2024 and June 2025, with 96% affecting men—predominantly Black gay men, many living with HIV or experiencing homelessness. Public health officials urge vaccination among at-risk groups amid fears that HIV-related budget cuts could undermine outbreak response capacity. As Fulton’s director of epidemiology emphasized, the virus is still circulating, and systemic inequities continue to shape outcomes. Without adequate resources, public health infrastructure may be unprepared for future mpox resurgences—or any other viral threats.
Even as national headlines have moved on, mpox continues to impact vulnerable communities in Fulton County, Georgia. At a recent Board of Health meeting, Fulton’s director of epidemiology, Sasha Smith, reported that 48 mpox cases were recorded from July 2024 to June 2025—up from 31 the previous year, marking a resurgence since the 2022 outbreak. Although the number is far lower than the 818 cases reported in 2022, Smith noted that the virus remains a “circulating” threat.
Particularly concerning is the disproportionate burden borne by Black gay men living with HIV. According to the CDC, people with HIV are overrepresented in mpox cases nationwide and face heightened risks of severe illness and death. In 2022, 60% of mpox cases in Georgia occurred in HIV-positive individuals. In Fulton County, more than 80% of cases in 2022 were among Black men, even though Black individuals made up only about 30% of Georgia’s population.
Justin Smith, director of the Campaign to End AIDS at Atlanta’s Positive Impact Health Center, emphasized that the most severe outcomes were experienced by those already marginalized—those with limited access to housing, healthcare, and HIV care. His concern is compounded by looming budget cuts to HIV surveillance programs, which could undermine Georgia’s ability to respond to mpox and other overlapping epidemics.
Despite vaccine availability, uptake remains suboptimal among high-risk populations. Smith urged unvaccinated individuals to come forward, especially with evidence that most recent cases involve men and disproportionately affect the LGBTQ+ community.
Fulton County’s experience offers a microcosm of how systemic inequality, underfunding, and weakened public health infrastructure threaten to leave marginalized communities behind. Mpox may no longer dominate headlines, but without renewed attention and investment, it risks becoming yet another neglected epidemic with devastating consequences.