90-Second Read: Potential Hantavirus case in Illinois. Officials reveal the details

Illinois health officials announced Tuesday that they are investigating a potential Hantavirus case, adding that the risk of transmission remains "very low" for residents. The Illinois Department of Public Health said in a statement that it is investigating a potential Hantavirus case that is not linked to the cruise ship outbreak. The CDC reported that the type of Hantavirus responsible for the outbreak on the cruise ship is the Andes virus, the only type of Hantavirus shown to spread from person to person.

The deadly virus was discovered at the center of an outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship, leading to 11 cases and three deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Hantaviruses are a class of viruses that originate from wild rodents, according to the IDPH. The most recently identified Hantavirus can affect the lungs, causing an illness called Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS).

Hantavirus is typically transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodents, according to the IDPH. The CDC is currently conducting additional testing to confirm whether the individual is positive for Hantavirus, according to the IDPH. In rare cases, humans can also be bitten by an infected rodent.