CHICAGO, Ill. – Illinois is now the first state in the union to declare a public health emergency over Monkeypox.
Governor JB Pritzker signed the emergency declaration Monday, after New York City and San Francisco mayors did something similar.
Pritzker, in a news release, says he’s seen the virus already disproportionately impact the LGBTQ community, and he wants to make sure they and others have the resources to stay safe.
“MPV is a rare, but potentially serious disease that requires the full mobilization of all available public health resources to prevent the spread,” said Pritzker, in a news release. “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.”
The state says it has 7,000 doses of the federal monkeypox vaccine supply, with 13,000 more on the way.
CLICK HERE to read the declaration (PDF document).
