PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Cases of monkeypox are on the rise in the Delaware Valley and the nation.
Larry Jackson III, 29, of North Philadelphia, said after multiple visits to the doctor, he recently discovered he had monkeypox.
“It still hurts like some of the shots hurt,” Jackson said.
He said it had been a painful battle for days.
Jackson is now staying home for three weeks, hoping the virus will go away. But at first, he said, he wasn’t sure what made him so sick.
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“Swollen lymph nodes, my throat was swollen, my body hurt,” Jackson said.
As of Aug. 1, there are 82 confirmed cases of monkeypox in Philadelphia, according to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.
There are 170 confirmed cases in Pennsylvania, 155 in New Jersey and five in Delaware, according to the CDC.
A doctor told Action News that the number of cases both locally and nationwide is increasing.
“I think that’s why most health care providers are taking it seriously, we’re being proactive in testing people now that the availability of testing has increased really significantly in the last few weeks,” said Eric Sachinwala, the medical director of Prevention of Infections, Einstein Healthcare Network.
SEE ALSO: UN health agency declares monkeypox a global emergency, disease now found in 70 countries
He said it’s important to watch for symptoms.
“Stay home, talk to your healthcare provider, they can probably help guide you on the best way to get tested,” Sachinwala said.
He added if you’ve been exposed but have no symptoms: “You don’t need to quarantine, but contact the health department, especially if you know the other person has monkeypox, because you may be eligible for a vaccine.” “
Eight more cases were confirmed in Bucks County on Wednesday.
Jeanne Franklin, director of the Chester County Health Department, said they have enough vaccines for now.
“But we don’t know what that’s going to look like, in terms of how quickly it’s going to spread and how many close contacts we’re going to have,” Franklin said.
She said whenever the county can order more vaccines, they will.
“Right now, the vaccine is prioritized for post-exposure, so those close contacts. We would love to have enough of a pre-exposure vaccine that we’re just not there,” Franklin said.
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