Amid an increase in mpox cases, health officials and care providers are urging Chicago residents to get vaccinated.
There have been 67 reported cases of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, in Chicago in the past three months, according to data from the city’s public health department. Three dozen cases were diagnosed last month, an 80% increase over July, the department says.
Dr. Andrew Crone, a physician at Howard Brown Health who specializes in infectious diseases, said he started noticing the uptick in mpox cases in mid-July.
For those concerned about the virus, Crone said the two-dose vaccine remains the most effective preventive measure.
Though the recent surge has not risen to the level of the 2022 outbreak, when infections topped a thousand in Chicago amid a global resurgence of mpox, the increase in cases sounds alarms, Crone said.
“It is concerning because the number of cases that we’re taking care of are people who have symptoms, that have brought them to the doctor, and we’ve accurately tested them, and the test is positive,” he said.
Crone worries that it may continue to spread from those who have minor symptoms or are unaware of the disease, or be missed during diagnosis by health care providers less experienced with the infection.
Mpox spreads through close, personal contact. Sexually active bisexual, gay and same-gender-loving men are most at risk of mpox, Crone said. According to city data, 72% of reported cases from the past three months have been men.
Symptoms for the virus can include painful rash or sores, most pronounced at body entrances like the mouth and genitals, Crone said. They may also come with flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, fatigue and swollen glands.
Many people with mpox recover within two to four weeks without medical treatment. Chicago’s health department recommends drinking water and keeping areas of rash and sores dry and clean, without scratching.
“For the majority of patients, it’s just taking care of yourself until it gets better on its own,” Crone said.
The increase in mpox cases comes as the federal government is enacting sweeping changes to vaccine policies.
A panel of vaccine advisers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted Friday to limit access to COVID-19 vaccines, making it more difficult for especially older adults to receive the shots.
Earlier this month, Gov. JB Pritzker signed an executive order aiming to protect access to routine vaccinations like COVID-19, flu, polio and measles.
The state’s Immunization Advisory Committee also voted Monday to recommend updated COVID-19 vaccines to most Illinois residents. The Illinois Department of Public Health issued its official recommendation on Tuesday.
Health care providers and community health centers across the Chicago area provide the mpox vaccine. The city advises those without a doctor or insurance to contact HIV/STI Resource Hub for support.
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