90-Second Read: How did an Illinois resident potentially contract Hantavirus? What we've learned

The Illinois Department of Public Health said Tuesday it is investigating a possible Hantavirus case in a resident that is not believed to be connected to a widespread outbreak on a cruise ship that has raised concerns worldwide. The person who potentially contracted the virus, a Winnebago County resident, is "suspected to have acquired a North American strain of the virus while cleaning a home where rodent droppings were present," the Illinois Department of Public Health said in a statement. Officials also stressed that the strain of Hantavirus that was potentially contracted is different from the Andes virus strain associated with the outbreak on the cruise ship, adding that the North American strain of Hantavirus is not known to spread from person to person.

What we know after officials announced a case in the state unrelated to a cruise ship outbreak. The CDC is still conducting additional testing to confirm the rodent is positive for Hantavirus, officials said, and the test could take up to 10 days to complete. Hantavirus infections are rare, but they are not new or unheard of in the U.S., including Illinois.

Hantavirus thread incoming ⚠️ But you have to promise to read this whole thread before panic-texting your group chat. The most recent confirmed case was in March 2025, according to IDPH.