- Chicago health officials said they wanted people to make 'informed choices' before meeting in gatherings this summer
- City's tally doubled this weekend to eight cases, with at least one linked back to annual fetish festival Mr Leather that took place last month
- It is thought to be the first city to issue the monkeypox warning to residents
- America recorded another seven cases of the tropical disease yesterday
- It comes as the World Health Organization says it will rename the virus because it is 'racist and discriminatory towards Africa'
People who 'feel sick' or have rashes should not attend summer parties or festivals in case they have monkeypox, health chiefs in Chicago have warned.
The city's Department of Public Health insisted it gave the warning to ensure residents could make 'informed choices' about gathering in places where the tropical disease could spread.
Chicago's monkeypox tally doubled to eight this weekend, with at least one case linked back to the annual fetish festival Mr Leather which took place last month.
It is thought to be the first city to issue the warning, although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also warned people who were ill or had rashes to stay away from others earlier this month.
America recorded another seven monkeypox cases yesterday bringing its tally to a total of 72 infections. Four of the new cases were in New York City, while one each was in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. It was not clear where the seventh was recorded.
Globally, more than 1,800 cases of the rash-causing virus have been detected in at least 45 countries outside of West Africa — where it is native.
It comes as the World Health Organization says it will rename the illness because its name is 'racist and discriminatory towards Africa'.
In guidance issued this week, Chicago's health chiefs said: 'Individuals attending festivals or other summer events should consider how much close, personal, skin-to-skin contact is likely to occur at the events.
If someone feels sick or has rashes or sores, [we] recommend not attending a gathering and visiting a healthcare provider as soon as possible.'
Dr Allison Arwady, its commissioner, added: 'While the risk in Chicago remains low, [we] want the public to be able to make informed choices about gathering in spaces or participating in events where monkeypox could be spread through intimate contact.'
Monkeypox primarily spreads through skin-to-skin contact with infectious lesions or sores on infected patients. But in rare cases it can also be passed on through the air when there is 'sustained' face-to-face contact.
Medical literature says that in the early stages of infection someone may experience flu-like symptoms before developing a rash on the face around three days later.
But the CDC says many patients are experiencing rashes in the genital area and around the anus first.
In some cases, they are also not developing any flu-like symptoms.