On June 13, a man in New York began to feel ill. “He starts to experience swollen lymph nodes and rectal discomfort,” says epidemiologist Keletso Makofane, who’s at Harvard University.
The man suspects he might have monkeypox. He’s a scientist, and knowledgeable about the signs and symptoms, Makofane says. So the man goes to his doctor and asks for a monkeypox test. The doctor decides, instead, to test the man for common sexually transmitted diseases. All those come back negative.
“A few days later, the pain worsens,” Makofane says. So he goes to the urgent care and again asks for a monkeypox test. This time, the provider prescribes him antibiotics for a bacterial infection. “The pain becomes so bad, and starts to interfere with his sleep,” Makofane says. “So this past Sunday, he goes to the emergency room of a big academic hospital in New York.”