Pritzker government declares monkeypox virus outbreak in Illinois a public health emergency

CHICAGO (CBS) — The Governor of Illinois. JB Pritzker on Monday declared the monkeypox virus a public health emergency and declared Illinois a disaster area for the disease.

The statement applies statewide and will allow the Illinois Department of Public Health to coordinate logistics to assist with vaccine distribution and treatment and prevention efforts. The statement will also help coordinate the state’s response with the federal government.

“MPV is a rare but potentially serious disease that requires the full mobilization of all available public health resources to prevent its spread,” the governor said. Pritzker said in a press release. “That’s why I’m declaring a state of emergency to ensure smooth coordination between state agencies and all levels of government, increasing our ability to prevent and quickly treat disease. We have seen this virus disproportionately affect the LGBTQ+ community in its early stages. Here in Illinois, we will ensure our LGBTQ+ community has the resources to stay safe while ensuring members are not stigmatized when accessing essential health care. »

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— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) August 1, 2022

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The proclamation will take effect immediately and will remain in effect for 30 days. The World Health Organization declared monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern on July 23.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady released a statement endorsing the state’s public health emergency declaration and saying no additional declarations are needed to the city :

“This emergency declaration brings needed and increased attention to the outbreak of Monkeypox (MPV) we are seeing here in Chicago, in our state and across the country. Since the beginning of this outbreak, the Chicago Department of Public Health has worked diligently with clinical and community partners to educate and vaccinate residents at increased risk and we will continue to do so. Ultimately, however, we need more support at the federal level to fully address the threat that MPV poses to our city. We hope this statement joins a chorus of others across the country and encourages rapid scale-up and distribution of vaccines. This statement will enable the state to use emergency supply powers and to directly involve other state agencies, such as the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), in Chicago. need a separate emergency declaration as we are covered by the state plus we already have a local emergency. recruitment process; a strong local distribution network; and a diverse group of clinical and community partners working to educate and vaccinate Chicagoans at increased risk.”

Monkeypox: what we know so far

As of Monday, a total of 520 monkeypox cases were reported in Illinois, according to the Illinois Department of Health. This total includes all probable and confirmed cases.

The city of Chicago has reported a total of 330 cases as of July 28.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials said monkeypox can be spread through close, personal and often skin-to-skin contact. Officials pointed to the the virus is spreading mainly among men with same-sex partners.

According to the CDC, symptoms include difficulty breathing, fever, rash, and headache. A full list of symptoms can be found here ici.

CDC officials said symptoms typically begin “within 3 weeks of exposure to the virus.” The illness usually lasts two to four weeks.

as CBS 2 reportedpatients described painful sores all over their bodies, as well as fevers, headaches, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes.

Cases of monkeypox usually clear up after a few weeks without further treatment. Some reported cases have been more serious and have resulted in hospitalization.