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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
REQUESTING A MEETING OF THE COOK COUNTY HEALTH AND HOSPITALS COMMITTEE TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE FROM THE COOK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ON MPV (MONKEYPOX) IN SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY
WHEREAS, in May 2022, cases of MPV started appearing in Europe with the first case appearing the U.S. on May 19, 2022; and
WHEREAS, the virus has spread globally and cases have totaled 3,591 cases in the U.S. by July 26, 2022; and
WHEREAS, the World Health Organization declared MPV a global health emergency on July 23, 2022 and;
WHEREAS, in the U.S., Illinois has consistently been in the top three states with the highest cases since the start of this outbreak with a concentration in the Chicago area; and
WHEREAS, MPV is a viral zoonosis (a virus transmitted to humans from animals) with symptoms similar to those seen in the past in smallpox patients, although it is clinically less severe. Human-to-human transmission can result from close contact with respiratory secretions, skin lesions of an infected person or recently contaminated objects. Transmission via droplet respiratory particles usually requires prolonged face-to-face contact.; and
WHEREAS, a two-dose vaccine is available for MPV that was previously developed and is highly effective in reducing severity of illness but supplies remain limited; and
WHEREAS, the limited supply of vaccine, at this time, has reduced eligibility for receiving the vaccine to very few individuals with confirmed cases or known exposure from close contacts; and
WHEREAS, at this time, a disproportionate amount of cases have affected the LGBTQ+ community; and
WHEREAS, given the history of stigma and discrimination against LGBTQ+ people during the 1980s/90s HIV/AIDS crisis, all public health entities need to prioritize combatting misinformation and disinformation that can perpetuate the targeting of a marginalized community; and
WHEREAS, although MPV is not spread in the same way nor has it caused deaths in the U....
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