NewsJune 24, 2003

ROCKFORD, Ill. -- Winnebago County health officials have confirmed that a hospitalized Rockford girl has monkeypox. Illinois now has six confirmed cases of the virus and 10 more possible cases, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health's Web site Monday night...

The Associated Press

ROCKFORD, Ill. -- Winnebago County health officials have confirmed that a hospitalized Rockford girl has monkeypox.

Illinois now has six confirmed cases of the virus and 10 more possible cases, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health's Web site Monday night.

No one has died from the disease.

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Officials said the 10-year-old girl was isolated at Swedish American Hospital after she was admitted Friday after displaying possible symptoms of monkeypox, Rockford police said.

The county health department didn't release the girl's name or condition, but officials have said her family had adopted prairie dogs.

A prairie dog the family adopted from Phil's Pocket Pets in Villa Park died May 28 from symptoms of the virus. State investigators have traced other cases of the virus to the same suburban Chicago pet distributor.

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