Rockford area health officials say they're ready to address monkeypox virus

A day after Gov. Pritzker issued an emergency declaration in response to the outbreak of the monkeypox virus, the Winnebago County Health Department made its own declaration stating, "The Winnebago County Health Department is ready to address the latest public health challenge."

In a statement issued Tuesday to the Register Star, the county health department said:

"While there have been no reported cases of the monkeypox virus in Winnebago County, the Winnebago County Health Department has been working with the Illinois Department of Public Health to conduct surveillance/monitoring activities; prepare for case investigation and associated contact tracing; and plan for vaccination of at-risk individuals and populations."

The county health department said vaccines, to date, have been distributed through the Illinois Department of Public Health to counties with confirmed cases of the monkeypox virus to vaccinate high-risk contacts.

More:Winnebago County COVID-19 cases and death tracker

In Illinois, the virus has been predominantly contained to the city of Chicago, Cook County and collar counties.

"Monkeypox virus is a rare, but potentially serious disease that requires the full mobilization of all available public health resources to prevent the spread," Pritzker said in a news release announcing the emergency declaration proclamation.

"That's why I am declaring a state of emergency to ensure smooth coordination between state agencies and all levels of government, thereby increasing our ability to prevent and treat the disease quickly. We have seen this virus disproportionately impact the LGBTQ+ community in its initial spread. Here in Illinois, we will ensure our LGBTQ+ community has the resources they need to stay safe while ensuring members are not stigmatized as they access critical health care."

According to information compiled by the Illinois Department of Public Health, the monkeypox virus can be transmitted by exposure to respiratory droplets and by contact with infected skin lesions or contaminated materials.

Monkeypox symptoms include: fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes and exhaustion. Within 1 to 3 days (sometimes longer) after a fever, the patient also develops a rash, often beginning on the face and then spreading to other parts of the body.

The illness typically lasts for 2-4 weeks.

The Winnebago County Health Department said it has issued health alerts to healthcare systems and providers to have a "high degree of clinical suspicion" of monkeypox virus based on presentation, epidemiologic risk factors and to test for the virus through available commercial laboratories.

The Winnebago County Health Department also identified jails as being at an increased risk because of its congregate setting and has worked with the University of Illinois College of Medicine and the Winnebago County Jail to outline procedures for screening at time of intake; isolation and quarantine procedures; as well as vaccination; treatments; and planning for release.

Boone County Public Health Administrator Amanda Mehl said her department is training staff, local providers, and community agencies on monkeypox virus protocols and signs and symptoms as well as working with local area providers to set up monkeypox virus testing.

There have not been any reported cases of the monkeypox virus in Boone County. McHenry County has reported one case, Mehl said.

Mehl stressed monkeypox is a virus that does not discriminate.

"This outbreak has disproportionately affected men who identify as gay, bisexual, or men who have sex with men," she said. "However, it is important for the public to know that monkeypox virus can be spread regardless of sexual orientation and that the monkeypox virus is not a sexually transmitted infection."

Mehl is encouraging people to have open conversations with their sexual partners about symptoms and sexual history.

"This outbreak of the monkeypox virus is highly contagious; however, the virus has a low fatality rate of less than 1% and there have been zero deaths from this outbreak," she said. "There is an antiviral medication called TPOXX that is for severe disease and for people at high risk of complications of monkeypox virus."

Stephenson County Health Department Administrator Craig Beintema said his office is encouraging people who fall within the guidelines of being at high-risk of contracting the virus (individuals who have had contact with someone who has the virus, or has traveled to risk areas such as South Africa or Nigeria, or men who have sex with men) to get vaccinated.

There have been confirmed cases of the monkeypox virus in Stephenson County.

Chris Green: 815-987-1241; cgreen@rrstar.com; @chrisfgreen

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford area health officials addressing monkeypox virus