Monday, August 01, 2022: CHICAGO—Governor Pritzker issued a proclamation today declaring the monkeypox virus a public health emergency and declaring the state of Illinois a disaster area regarding the disease. The declaration, which applies to the entire state, will allow the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to utilize resources for coordinating logistics across state agencies, quickly and efficiently aid in the distribution of vaccines and in the prevention and treatment of the disease. The proclamation will also assist state agencies in coordinating response with the federal government. Click here to view the full announcement. As of August 1, there are 520 monkeypox cases in Illinois. To view more on monkeypox cases in Illinois, go to the IDPH Monkeypox webpage.