The Atlanta-based United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is updating its monkeypox information websites with the term “mpox” as part of an effort to reduce stigma. Health experts promote the new term to help mitigate the usage of racist or stigmatizing language surrounding monkeypox.
The move follows a recent recommendation by the World Health Organization as the number of cases in the U.S. continues to decline amid growing supplies of the mpox vaccine.
But, while cases have fallen since the summer, Georgia remains among the states with the highest number of infections, according to state data from the CDC.
The latest numbers from the Georgia Department of Public Health show the state with more than 1,900 cases.
Almost all cases continue to be among men. Roughly three-quarters of cases are among Black Georgians. Most are located around the Atlanta metro area.
