Chicago Department of Public Health Weekly Media Brief, 12/05/2025

Jump Ahead

• Stay Safe and Warm This Winter
• New HIV Data Brief
• Malcolm X College Vaccine Event
• Healthy Chicago Podcast
• Mpox Outbreak Contained

Stay Safe and Warm in the Winter Weather

With wind chills potentially dropping below zero this week and into the weekend, CDPH urges Chicagoans to take proper precautions to protect themselves from the extreme cold. The City of Chicago maintains warming centers on weekdays when temperatures are 32 degrees and below, and libraries and Chicago Park District facilities are open for those who need shelter from the cold. If you're in need of non-emergency health or social support, call 3-1-1 for help.

• Avoid unnecessary trips outside.
• Wear several layers of dry, loose, warm clothing.
• Do not let children play outside unsupervised or for long periods of time.
• Pay special attention to keeping your head, ears, hands and feet warm.
• Avoid drinking alcohol, which causes loss of body heat and can impair your judgment and motor skills in the cold.
• Check on friends and neighbors, especially those who are elderly, disabled and/or live alone.
• If you are unable to check on someone, call 311 to request a well-being check.

2024 HIV Data Brief Released

CDPH's new 2024 HIV Data Brief, released on World AIDS Day, shows that Chicago has seen its long downward trend in new HIV cases stall after years of steady decline. In 2024, 818 Chicagoans were newly diagnosed, a 12.5 percent increase over 2023 and nearly 30 percent higher than 2022. Nearly half of new diagnoses in 2024 occurred among Hispanic residents, and 73 percent were among adults aged 20-39. These parallel trends may reflect national pressures reshaping the HIV landscape, from disruptions in health care access to the growing impact of housing and economic instability.

Despite these recent upticks, the long arc of progress still bends toward zero. Much more progress has been made than lost, and Chicago remains far from the crisis-era levels of the early 1990s. Maintaining that progress depends on stable support-Chicago relies on federal funding for the bulk of its HIV prevention, housing, and care efforts, resources now threatened by proposed cuts to the CDC's Division of HIV Prevention and other programs.

The journey toward zero requires protecting hard-won progress and strengthening the programs that keep people healthy, housed, and connected to care and treatment.

Malcolm X College Vaccine Event

Don't Miss Out!

CDPH will hold its final City College vaccination event for the season this Saturday, December 6 at Malcolm X College (1900 West Jackson Blvd.) from 9 am to 1 pm for no-cost 2024-2025 COVID-19 and flu vaccines for the whole family. Everyone ages 6 months and over are recommended to get vaccinated!

WVON will be broadcasting live on-site. Walk-ins are welcome, but registration is encouraged. Register on the CDPH GetVaxChi website.

Why get vaccinated now? It's your #1 defense against getting sidelined this season. Whether it's holiday gatherings, football games, or quality time with loved ones, don't let preventable illness keep you from the moments that matter.

Plus, we're offering school-age physicals and pediatric vaccines at all City College locations, so you can check everything off your list in one visit.

See the full calendar of CDPH vaccine clinics to find one near you!

Healthy Chicago Podcast

In the newest Spanish-language Healthy Chicago Podcast, we discuss the impact of immigration raids on families' mental health. Many people were forced to stay home, stop going to work or school, and limit daily activities out of fear of detention. Dr. Francisco Rodríguez, director of CDPH Mental Health Clinics, shares how families have coped with this stress and practical tools to ease anxiety at home. We also cover how anyone in Chicago can access our seven clinics: regardless of immigration status, insurance, or ability to pay, including virtual therapy with fully bilingual staff.

Listen or watch our newest episodes: YouTube, Spotify, Apple and the CDPH website.

Mpox Outbreak Contained

CDPH announced last week that Chicago's recent mpox outbreak has been contained. After a summer surge, new cases have stayed very low for several weeks, meeting the criteria for containment.

The progress follows a rapid, coordinated response that included targeted vaccination, accelerated case investigations, and broad community outreach.

CDPH Commissioner Olusimbo "Simbo" Ige, MD, MS, MPH praised the "tireless work of public-health staff, clinicians, disease investigators, and community partners" who helped reduce transmission. She also emphasized the importance of public health at a time when health departments across the country face shrinking resources, reminding Chicagoans that coordinated public-health action saves lives.

Mpox still circulates globally, and prevention remains key. CDPH encourages residents to stay aware of symptoms, seek prompt care for concerning lesions or rashes, and complete vaccination if eligible. Free testing, treatment, and vaccination are available at CDPH's Sexual Health Clinics. Ongoing data updates can be found on the CDPH Mpox Dashboard.

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