Black Men Make Up Most Mpox Fatalities, CDC Says

According to a new CDC study, nearly 90% of all cases of all deaths from mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, were Black men, and most had advanced HIV. This suggests that two of the diseases that have plagued the gay community in particular are especially deadly when combined. The report called for “(e)quitable and early access to prevention and treatment for both mpox and HIV.” The report later went on to explain that, “Disparities and barriers are apparent at all levels of HIV care including recognition of HIV risk, access to testing, and access to and receipt of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and ART (antiretroviral therapy).”

In another report released the same day by the CDC, it was found that, although mpox is likely to hit Black and Hispanic males at higher rates, these two groups are much less likely to be vaccinated than whites. This report concluded that “Sustained equity-based strategies, such as tailored messaging and expanding vaccination services to reach racial and ethnic minority groups, are needed to prevent disparities in future mpox outbreaks.”

“Racial and ethnic disparities in mpox incidence are driven by several factors, including social determinants of health,” the report went on to read. “Black and Hispanic males might face barriers to prevention, including access to information and to mpox vaccines resulting from gaps in dissemination of information, language barriers, racism, homophobia, xenophobia, stigma, discrimination, unemployment, and poverty.”

A recent report from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists described the mpox outbreak as “down but not out” and urged that decreased number of cases is not a cause for complacency. “The history of this virus reveals a pathogen that has continuously evolved, shifting how it transmits and whom it affects,” the article continues. “At times, during this history, public health authorities have failed to pay adequate attention to mpox. Doing so again would be a mistake.” Thus, vaccinations for everyone, especially those who have historically had low vaccination rates and access, are still vital.