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The new transmissible disease known as monkeypox has made its presence in the Cook County Jail, confirmed by authorities last Tuesday. Infected by the disease, the individual arrested brought monkeypox into the Cook County Jail without officials knowing beforehand, causing the jail to report its first case.
Protocols and Regulations
In a statement reported by NBC Chicago News, the city, county health officials, and Cook County Sheriff announced, “The individual was immediately isolated, and, out of an abundance of caution, the living unit was quarantined and monitored with daily screenings.”
With proper measures and protocols, the jail transferred the individual into isolation and away from the general population. According to the Cook County health officials, the risk of the disease spreading to others in the jail is low based on how the disease is transmitted. However, recently the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), says the virus is now transmissible through infected surfaces.
How Cook County Jail Plans to Move Forward
As symptoms progressed, the individual remained in isolation from the others. Sticking to regulations and protocols, the individual was placed in a separate intake housing unit from the other intakes.
Due to COVID-19 regulations, the jail continues to follow each protocol to ensure every individual remains safe and healthy. The Cook County health officials anticipate more cases to arrive at the jail following the initial case announced last Tuesday.
“It is important to remember that the population is a microcosm of the community. As such, it is reasonable to expect cases to appear within the jail,” said in a release by the health department.
Confirmed Cases in Chicago
As of Monday, the CDC has confirmed 344 monkeypox disease cases in Illinois. The first case appeared in the U.S. in mid-May, and since then, the world has seen 18,095 cases of monkeypox. To stay safe, health officials suggest staying away from individuals who share specific symptoms.
Written by China Page
Edited by Sheena Robertson
Sources:
NBC Chicago News: “Monkeypox Case Detected at Cook County Jail, Officals Say”; by NBC Chicago Associated Press
ABC 7 News: “Monkeypox case reported in Cook County Jail”; by ABC 7 Chicago Digital Team
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Inset Image- Courtesy of The Focal Project‘s Flickr Page- All Creative Common License
