Illinois Has 3rd Case Of Zika Virus -- A Man
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP/CBS) — A man who traveled to South America has developed the third case of Zika virus in Illinois.
The Illinois Department of Public Health previously reported two pregnant women tested positive for the mosquito-borne virus after traveling in Honduras and Haiti.
The department announced the third Illinois case on its website Thursday. Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the agency, says the man had traveled to Colombia but declined to offer details, citing confidentiality requirements.
Dr. Steven Sokalski of Advocate Christ Medical Center says men at risk of getting Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a neurological infection, if they pick up the Zika virus. The Zika virus can even be detected in semen, though it's not been determined if the virus can be transmitted through sex. Most people exposed to the virus suffer only mild symptoms. But the risk is far greater for pregnant women because of a possible link to a birth defect.
Federal health officials have posted Zika travel notices about countries in Central and South America and in the Caribbean. Also: Cape Verde, off the coast of western Africa, and Samoa in the South Pacific.
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