Mpox cases in Chicago have fallen sharply after a summer spike, and health officials say the outbreak is now over.
Since June, 164 mpox cases have been reported in Chicago, but the numbers have steadily declined over the past month, according to Stephanie Black, MD, communicable disease medical director at the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH).
At the height of the spike in September and early October, Chicago saw as many as 14 new mpox cases per week. By mid-November, new infections had fallen to about two per week, which moved Chicago out of what the department defines as an outbreak.
“The outbreak is over,” Black said.
Black credited the turnaround to aggressive vaccination efforts and collaborations with LGBTQ+ organizations, sexual health providers and nightlife venues across Chicago.
While overall risk is now low in Chicago, Black warned that mpox continues to circulate at low levels.
“Mpox is out there and has not gone away,” she said. “It’s just kind of simmering, and we’re back down to kind of being at this low level.”
CDPH hosted 20 pop-up vaccination events beginning in mid-September and partnered with community organizations to promote vaccine access across the city.
“We had a lot of partners who were helping us out with those vaccination clinics, but also getting the word out,” Black said.
Steamworks, Touché, Two Bears Tavern and Center on Halsted were among the community partners in CDPH’s response. The groups promoted vaccine information inside their spaces and hosted vaccinators onsite.
“Our partners helped us meet people where they were at,” Black said.
Volunteer vaccinators from Prism and UIC also played a role in Chicago’s response, working off the clock to staff the pop-up clinics throughout the outbreak.
“This type of collaboration among academics, nonprofits and community-based partners really allowed this to happen,” Black said. “Lots of people who care a lot about the community jumped in to help.”
Even though the outbreak has ended, Black emphasized that mpox has not disappeared. She said vaccination remains important for people who anticipate sexual situations with anonymous or new partners.
“If people are going to anticipate risky behavior, they should be vaccinated,” she said. “It’s always a good time to check in with your partner and talk about sexual health.”
Black also noted that vaccination helps prevent severe illness. Of the 164 people diagnosed since June, seven were hospitalized—and all of them were unvaccinated.
“We know that, you know, vaccines can’t prevent infection 100% but it does reduce the severity of illness,” she said.
CDPH will continue hosting vaccine clinics through the winter, and a number of pop-up vaccination efforts are coming up. Upcoming vaccination events are listed on CDPH’s website.