THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH IS CONFIRMING SIX CASES OF A VIRAL ILLNESS LINKED TO TWO RAT BREEDING FACILITIES IN ILLINOIS.

 

THE SIX INDIVIDUALS HAVE THE SEOUL VIRUS…WHICH IS PRETTY RARE IN THE UNITED STATES. IT DOESN’T CARRY A BIG RISK TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC SAYS PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR DOCTOR NIRAV SHAH.

 

 

SHAH SAYS THE VIRUS IS RARE IN THE U-S…AND IS NOT TRANSMITTED FROM PERSON TO PERSON.

 

 

A RATTERY IN WISCONSIN PURCHASED RATS FROM THE TWO ILLINOIS BREEDERS AND TWO RESIDENTS THERE HAVE ALSO TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE SEOUL VIRUS. SYMPTOMS ARE SIMILAR TO THE FLU, ALTHOUGH SOME PEOPLE AFFECTED SHOW NO SIGNS OF ILLNESS.