3 Zika Cases Have Been Confirmed In Pregnant Illinois Women

By Gwendolyn Purdom in News on Aug 5, 2016 3:30PM

The Illinois Department of Public Health announced Thursday that three pregnant women in the state have been confirmed as infected with the Zika virus out of 46 cases of the virus reported statewide.

Five other pregnant women showed signs of flavivirus, the genus of viruses that includes Zika and Dengue Fever, at the time of testing, IDPH public information officer Divya Mohan Little told Chicagoist Friday, but the CDC wasn't able to determine which virus the women had. Fears about the mosquito-spread virus that can cause severe birth defects in pregnant women have been especially stoked in recent weeks as the CDC has, for the first time, recommended pregnant women avoid a particular region of the country (a neighborhood in Miami) because of Zika risk, and the world turns its attention to the summer Olympics in Brazil, where the virus has been prevalent.

Mohan Little did not say whether any of the infected or potentially infected pregnant women live in the Chicago area, citing a department policy not to release regional information.

"[We don't release regional information] in order to protect patient confidentiality and because given the way Zika virus is transmitted, there is no additional risk, based on location in Illinois," she said in an email. At least one Chicago woman was confirmed to be suffering from the virus back in March, but she wasn't pregnant at the time and made a full recovery.

All 46 Illinois cases (31 female, 15 male), Mohan Little said, were acquired through travel to Zika virus-affected areas. "We encourage all travelers to Zika-affected areas to take precautions against mosquito bites and pregnant women or women who may become pregnant to avoid such travel," Mohan Little said in a statement.

While the IDPH's website echoes the CDC in advising Illinois women to avoid Miami's Wynwood neighborhood, as well as other Zika-affected regions, here in Illinois the risk of being infected by a local mosquito is nearly non-existent. Back in March, a Field Museum mosquito expert told Chicagoist the two types of mosquitos that carry the virus aren't present in the area and if the virus were to spread locally, it would be due to people bringing it back from other places. While the city has consistently been ranked among the top worst cities for mosquitos (Orkin ranked it at the No. 2 city for mosquitos in 2015, behind only Atlanta), when it comes to mosquito-born illnesses, West Nile is a much bigger local concern.

Anyone who has recently returned from a region where Zika is circulating (or who has a sexual partner who has), and is experiencing fever, rash, joint pain or red eyes is encouraged to contact their local health department for testing.