( KTRS ) The Illinois Department of Public Health is alerting the public to the potential of contracting Zika virus while traveling abroad.

Two pregnant Illinois women have tested posistive for the virus after traveling to Honduras and Haiti. Physicians are monitoring their health and pregnancies. Zika virus is spread to people through mosquito bites, similar to West Nile virus or dengue fever. While illness is usually mild and severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon, there is a possible link between Zika virus infection in pregnant women and subsequent birth defects.

Until more is known, the CDC recommends that pregnant women in any trimester should consider postponing travel to the areas where the Zika virus is still active.