90-Second Read: Suspected Hantavirus case in Illinois resident tests negative

The CDC performed confirmatory testing, which did not detect Hantavirus, the Illinois Department of Public Health said on Tuesday. Furthermore, the risk of getting Hantavirus remains very low for Illinois residents, according to IDPH. Illinois has only had seven positive Hantavirus cases from 1993 to March 2025.

But the resident, whose symptoms were mild and did not require hospitalization, was suspected of contracting the North American strain while cleaning a home containing rodent droppings, according to IDPH. The United States has recorded 890 cases of Hantavirus from 1993 (the year surveillance began) to 2023. Hantaviruses are a group of zoonotic viruses that infect rodents.

The North American strain of the Hantavirus is not spread from person to person. Unfortunately, Hantaviruses found in North America, including the Andes virus, may rapidly progress to Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome and cause cough, shortness of breath, fluid in the lungs, and shock, according to WHO. The Winnebago County resident had not travelled internationally nor come into contact with anyone associated with the MV Hondius outbreak.