CITYWIDE — Local health officials are urging Chicagoans to get vaccinated against mpox amid a spike in cases.

There have been 81 new cases of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, reported in Chicago over the past six months — and 90 percent of them have been diagnosed since June 10, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health. Fourteen new cases were reported Sept. 9-15 alone.

Mpox has particularly affected gay, bisexual and same-gender-loving men in Chicago.

Dr. Andrew Crone, infectious disease specialist physician at Howard Brown, said his organization’s clinic has seen the increase — and vaccination remains key to reducing the severity of illness.

“While we can and have seen cases in both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, vaccination can still provide good protection a

See Full Page