Note: In support of the November 28, 2022 recommendation by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health and Human Services (HHS), CDC and other public health agencies will adopt "Mpox" as the term used to refer to monkeypox disease.

Evanston Mpox Data
Cases	13
Hospitalization	3

 

Note: Data will be updated every Friday at 3:00 p.m.

For updates, visit the CDC's U.S. Mpox Outbreak Situation Summary

For Illinois specific updates, please visit Illinois Department of Public Health

What You Should Know

• Mpox is a rare disease caused by infection with the mpox virus and was discovered in 1958.
• The first known human case was identified in 1970.
• Starting in 2022, there have been mpox outbreaks in Europe and the United States. A number of those outbreaks have been with patients who identify as gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men.
• Anyone can get mpox. Any person who has direct physical contact including intimate physical contact with an infected individual may be exposed and could become infected

How It Spreads

The mpox virus can spread from person-to-person through:

• Direct contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids
• Respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact, or during intimate physical contact, such as kissing, cuddling, or sex
• Touching items (such as clothing or linens) that previously touched the infectious rash or body fluids
• Pregnant people can spread the virus to their fetus through the placenta

It's also possible for people to get mpox from infected animals, either by being scratched or bitten by the animal or by preparing or eating meat or using products from an infected animal.

If you think you may have mpox, please stay home and isolate yourself from others in your household, using a separate bathroom and bedroom, if possible.  Call your healthcare provider to inquire about testing for the mpox virus.  If you do have to leave home or be around others, wear a mask and keep all lesions, if present, covered.

Common Symptoms

• Rash or unusual sores on face, body, and/or genitals
• Fever
• Chills
• Head or muscle aches
• Swelling of lymph nodes

Prevention

• Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like mpox
  • Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with mpox
  • Do not kiss, hug, or have sex with someone with mpox
  • Do not share eating utensils or cups with a person with mpox
  • Do not handle or touch the bedding, towels, or clothing of a person with mpox
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer

Vaccination

Anyone who meets one of the following criteria AND has not previously been infected with mpox is eligible for vaccination:

• Anyone regardless of sex, gender, or sexual orientation who:
  • Had skin-to-skin or intimate contact with someone diagnosed with mpox
  • Lives with HIV
  • Exchanges goods or services for sex
  • Is eligible for or currently takes HIV-PrEP

OR

• Sexually active bisexual, gay and other same gender-loving men and transgender individuals. Especially consider getting vaccinated if you:
  • Met recent partners through online applications or social media platforms (such as Grindr, Tinder or Scruff), or at clubs, raves, sex parties, saunas.
  • Were diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections(s) (STI) in the past 6 months

OR

• Sexual partners of people with the above risks
• People who anticipate experiencing the above risks

If you meet the criteria outlined above please contact one of the vaccine providers listed below to schedule a vaccination. To search for a provider near you, see https://mpoxvaxmap.org/

Vaccine Provider	Address	Miles from Evanston	How To Schedule
Howard Brown	6500 N Clark Street Chicago, IL	3.5 miles	773-388-1600
Center on Halsted	3656 N Halsted Chicago, IL	8 miles	https://www.centeronhalsted.org/mpvaccine.html
CDPH Lakeview Clinic	2849 N Clark Street Chicago, IL	9 miles	getvaxchi.chicago.gov
Wellness Home-Lakeview	2835 N Sheffield Ave Chicago, IL	10 miles	Email a.mitchell@wellnesshome.org
Northshore Glenbrook Hospital Outpatient Office	2100 Pfingsten Rd Glenview, IL	10.7 miles	Northshore Connect Portal
Erie Humboldt Park	2750 W North Ave Chicago, IL	10.9 miles	312-666-3494
Cook County Health Arlington Heights Health Center	3250 N Arlington Heights Rd Suite 300 Arlington Heights, IL	20 miles	847-934-7969

 

If you have general questions regarding mpox please call Evanston 311 at 847-448-4311.

 

Information for Healthcare Providers

1. Mpox testing is now available at several commercial labs, including LabCorp and Quest, without health department approval. Please use commercial lab testing if at all possible.
2. Testing at IDPH's lab is limited to those with an urgent need, including but not limited to those with severe clinical presentation, children, pregnant women or those living in congregate settings.
   • Testing through IDPH must be requested through the Illinois Electronic Test Ordering and Reporting (ETOR) portal. To enroll your site in the ETOR portal or if you have further questions, please email DPH.LABS.DMG@illinois.gov
   • For more information on the use of the ETOR portal, please see the IL ETOR Portal User Manual
3. Please report any suspected cases to the local health department where the patient lives. This notification should be made by phone within 24 hours of suspecting mpox.
4. Please report any laboratory confirmed cases to the local health department where the patient lives. This notification should be made by phone or by I-NEDSS within 24 hours of receiving positive laboratory results.
5. To report a suspected or laboratory confirmed case to the Evanston Health and Human Services Department:
   • During normal business hours (M-F, 7 am - 6 pm), call Evanston 311 at 847-448-4311 and indicate you need to report a case of mpox to the health department.
   • Afterhours, weekends and holidays, call the Evanston Police non-emergency number at 847-866-5000 and indicate you need to report a case of mpox to the health department. 
6. Although there are no FDA approved treatments for mpox at this time, tecovirimat (TPOXX) is considered first-line among non-FDA approved options. Clinicians interested in prescribing oral tecovirimat, should consider seeking access through enrollment in the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) Study of Tecovirimat for Human Monkeypox Virus (STOMP) so that the trial can determine efficacy of this drug.
   • for more information please see:
     • IDPH TPOXX hotline 800-887-3931
     • CDC's Mpox Treatment Information for Healthcare Professionals

Information for Healthcare Professionals - CDC