Pennsylvania’s monkeypox case count climbs to more than 200. Here’s the latest

Pennsylvania now has more than 200 confirmed cases of monkeypox, as more cases are reported across the U.S. — prompting the federal health and human services secretary to declare a national health emergency as of Thursday.

At 7,510 cases nationwide, the U.S. currently has more active cases than any other country.

“We are prepared to take our response to the next level in addressing this virus. We urge every American to take monkeypox seriously,” U.S. Department of Health and Human Secretary Xavier Becerra said.

The latest available figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, current as of Friday, show Pennsylvania has at least 205 active cases of monkeypox, which is a cousin to smallpox. Though both diseases have similar symptoms, monkeypox is milder and rarely fatal.

Still, the hallmark symptomatic skin lesions it causes are painful and can leave scarring in those who contract monkeypox.

The virus typically spreads through prolonged, skin-to-skin contact, which according to the CDC can include hugging, cuddling and kissing, as well as through the sharing of bedding, towels and clothing.

The Centre Daily Times reached out to the Pennsylvania Department of Health with questions about the state’s response to the monkeypox outbreak, including what threshold would need to be met for a public health emergency to be declared, as other states have done, but did not immediately hear back.

PA has 161 reported cases of monkeypox. Here’s what to know about the disease, symptoms

In a statement, press secretary Mark O’Neill told to the Beaver County Times the department has identified at least 211 cases of monkeypox in Pennsylvania, including 40 in the southwest region of the state.

“While everyone should be aware of the presence of monkeypox in the United States, the general population is considered to be at low risk of contracting monkeypox, as monkeypox does not spread easily between people,” O’Neill told the Beaver County Times.

In Philadelphia, where there were at least 82 confirmed cases as of Aug. 1, Black residents are raising concerns about the equity of vaccine distribution.

As of the start of August, Philadelphia had received 2,625 doses of the vaccine and administered 1,613 doses at that time, according to the most recent data.

But amid concerns that doses are disproportionately going mostly to white people, as was the case with COVID-19 vaccines, officials are refusing to release demographic data.

“The Health Department has every intention of releasing those data, as soon as it is ready for release,” spokesperson James Kyle told Billy Penn. “In the meantime, the Health Department is working every day [to] make sure that people who have been exposed or are at the highest risk have equitable access to the vaccine.”