monkeypox illinois

As Chicago’s 2022 Market Days approaches this weekend, here’s what health officials are saying about vaccine supply, how the virus spreads, the community at highest risk and more.

As monkeypox cases climb in Chicago and across the country, President Biden has deemed the virus a public health emergency. NBC 5’s Lexi Sutter has the details.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday declared monkeypox a public health emergency, classifying the state as a “disaster area” in regards to the disease.

Illinois is now a “disaster area” in regards to the monkeypox virus. And while testing is readily available, vaccinations aren’t quite there yet. Here’s what Chicago’s top doctor says about when that could change.

“I don’t anticipate a widening of eligibility in the next couple of weeks,” said Dr. Allison Arwady, the commissioner of Chicago Department of Public Health, on Tuesday discussing current monkeypox vaccine eligibility and additional federal doses arriving in coming weeks.

Here’s what the governor’s declaration means for Illinois residents, and what to know as the virus continues its spread across the state in ways that experts say they haven’t seen before.

Citing the continued spread of the monkeypox outbreak, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker declared the virus a public health emergency Monday, classifying Illinois as a “disaster area” in regard to the disease.

With monkeypox vaccines in short supply, there are restrictions on who can get them. But a Harvard doctor is calling out the CDC and New York City on their vaccine eligibility requirements, which are mostly focused on men who have recently had sex with a male partner. That perpetuates the idea that monkeypox is sexually transmitted, and focuses on particular...

As monkeypox continues to spread, there’s growing concern of how the virus is transmitted and who is most at-risk, particularly with major festivals like Lollapalooza getting underway. Dr. Sharon Welbel with Cook County Health joined NBC 5 to break down what people need to know about the virus.

As monkeypox cases continue to rise across the U.S. and the world, many are wondering how the virus is spread and whether or not they are at risk of contracting it.

Gov. JB Pritzker has asked the head of the US Department of Health and Human Services to “take more aggressive action to counter the monkeypox virus outbreak” in the country, specifically in areas like Chicago, where outbreaks have become significant, the governor said Thursday.

Illinois health officials received monkeypox vaccines Thursday, as the state continues to record among the most cases in the U.S.

Most of those cases have been reported in Chicago, and vaccine events have already begun.

Overall, Illinois has reported 46 cases of the virus, the CDC reports — currently the third highest number of cases across the country — with most of those in the Chicago area. Lisa Chavarria has more on vaccine events.

A look back at the top news headlines for this week in news with Kye Martin.