Chicago's Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said there are now 42 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the city.
"Most, but not all, have been in gay or bisexual men," Dr. Arwady said. "That's a pattern that we've seen in Europe as well, but a lot of this is just because spread will occur through tight-knit social networks, and there certainly have been examples of others also getting monkeypox."
Dr. Arwady said monkeypox remains rare, and there have been no deaths in Chicago associated with monkeypox, which is spread by close contact.
"This is close contact. Skin to skin," Arwady told the Chicago City Council Health Committee. "Touching somebody's rashes or sores … sharing bedding or towels, kissing, coughing, [or] sneezing."
She said anyone with an unexplained new rash should see a doctor.
Most of the cases, Dr. Arwady said, have been reported by primary care physicians.
Monkeypox typically clears up in about two weeks, Dr. Arwady said.
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