Monkeypox

The Rantoul case is Illinois’ first monkeypox case linked to a day care, Illinois Department of Public Health spokeswoman Lauri Sanders said. The monkeypox virus spreads through prolonged skin-to-skin contact.

The U.S. has declared a public health emergency to bolster the federal response to the outbreak of monkeypox that already has infected more than 6,600 Americans

In a news release, the Whiteside County Health Department says the vaccines used for monkeypox are not yet available, but provides suggestions on how to lessen chances of contracting virus.

Illinois has a reported 520 monkeypox cases, third most in the nation. Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday declared the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency. The proclamation is in place for 30 days, according to the governor's office.

The Illinois Department of Public Health has announced that, due to limited supplies of the vaccine for monkeypox virus, the state is prioritizing the first dose of the vaccine for those eligible

The chief of the World Health Organization says the expanding monkeypox outbreak in more than 70 countries is an “extraordinary” situation that qualifies as a global emergency

Kane County Health Department received the first shipment of the shots on July 15.

Officials from The McHenry County Department of Health released a statement Saturday that said the virus had been identified in an adult “who met initial criteria for the disease and has a positive orthopoxvirus result.”

The Illinois Department of Public Health announced Thursday it would receive 1,291 monkeypox vaccine doses to address the ongoing monkeypox virus outbreak. The number of monkeypox vaccine doses is expected to "increase substantially during the coming months."

A Lake County resident has what is likely the county's first case of monkeypox, health officials announced Wednesday. The person was tested by a state lab on Monday, and the results indicate a probable infection, according to the county health department.

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported Thursday the state is now up to 10 monkeypox cases. Nine of the state’s cases are in Chicago, and one is in DuPage County.

Dr. Jonathan Pinsky, medical director of infection control at Edward Hospital in Naperville, and Dr. John Bolden, an infectious disease physician with Morris Hospital, belive residents in Will and Grundy counties don't need to fear monkeypox.

Genetic analysis of recent monkeypox cases suggests there are two distinct strains in the U.S., health officials said Friday, raising the possibility that the virus has been circulating undetected for some time.

Illinois has its first probable case of monkeypox, in an adult male from Chicago with recent travel history to Europe. He did not require hospitalization and is resting at home "in good condition" according to the Illinois Department of Public Health

Dr. Jonathan Pinsky, medical director of infection control at Edward Hospital in Naperville, treated cases of monkey pox in 2003. He said monkey pox is rare, not new and unlikely to create a large outbreak.