Philadelphia Mpox Update (Nov 2025): Testing, Vaccines, and What Caregivers Should Know

Written By Naim Saleem

What’s happening in Philadelphia right now

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) reported that new mpox cases have increased again since mid-July 2025, after a quieter stretch earlier in the year. Recent updates also note a small number of mpox cases caused by clade I, a strain that has raised concern in some countries. PDPH Health Information Portal+1

Because of this, PDPH is reminding healthcare providers and at-risk residents to stay up to date on testing, vaccination, and follow-up care. PDPH Health Information Portal+1

Quick refresher: what is mpox?

Mpox is a viral illness that can spread through close contact, especially skin-to-skin contact with a rash, lesions, or body fluids, or through respiratory droplets during prolonged close contact. Symptoms can include:

  • Rash or sores, sometimes painful or itchy

  • Fever or chills

  • Swollen lymph nodes

  • Headache, fatigue, or muscle aches

Not everyone has severe symptoms, but some people can become very sick, especially those with weakened immune systems.

Who should consider vaccination?

PDPH and CDC recommend JYNNEOS vaccination for people at higher risk of mpox exposure (for example, certain sexual or social networks, or people with known exposures). Some updates emphasize that JYNNEOS is expected to offer protection against multiple mpox clades, including clade I. PDPH Health Information Portal+1

If you’re unsure whether you or a loved one should be vaccinated, the safest step is to:

When to seek testing or medical care

You should contact a healthcare provider promptly if you or someone you care for:

  • Develops a new, unexplained rash or sores

  • Has had close contact with someone diagnosed with mpox

  • Has symptoms plus a known exposure in the last few weeks

A provider can decide whether mpox testing is appropriate and how to manage isolation and symptom relief. PDPH notes that testing can be done through commercial labs and public health laboratories when ordered by a clinician. PDPH Health Information Portal

Home health care and mpox: how ACSA supports you

Because ACSA provides home health care, our team can help put your provider’s mpox plan into action at home. For eligible clients under a physician’s order, our clinicians can:

  • Monitor symptoms during visits and promptly report concerning changes to the ordering provider

  • Reinforce infection-prevention steps at home (hand hygiene, laundry handling, surface disinfection)

  • Help clients follow isolation instructions while still receiving medically necessary care

  • Support medication adherence (such as antivirals, pain control, or other prescribed treatments)

We work under your provider’s orders and keep communication clear so that home health visits support, not replace, your medical team.

Important: This post is for general information only and does not replace advice from your healthcare provider.

Naim Saleem