- The story has been updated to reflect the latest test results released by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Confirmatory testing conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) did not detect Hantavirus. The resident is no longer considered a potential case of Hantavirus and no further public health action is needed. (5/18/26)
Included below is the original reporting and information from May 12, 2026, which included context about the need for initial CDC testing to confirm if the case was positive.
The Illinois Department of Public Health is investigating a potential Hantavirus case affecting a Winnebago County resident.
IDPH stresses that the case is not connected to a recent outbreak in the news on the MV Hondius cruise ship. The agency said the person suspected of contracting the virus has not traveled internationally or had contact with anyone associated with that outbreak. Instead, IDPH said the individual is believed to have contracted a North American strain of the virus while cleaning a home where rodent droppings were present.
IDPH said "Unlike the Andes strain of Hantavirus responsible for the cruise outbreak, the North American strains are not known to spread from person-to-person. The risk of contracting Hantavirus of any kind remains very low for Illinois residents."
The agency said the resident is recovering after experiencing mild symptoms that did not require hospitalization.
IDPH is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct additional testing to confirm the infection. The CDC process can take up to 10 days.
The department is also coordinating with local health departments, including the Winnebago County Health Department.
IDPH says before this, Illinois has had seven positive cases of Hantavirus since 1993, the most recent in March 2025. The United States has reported 890 cases since 1993.
Dr. Sandra Martell, public health administrator for the Winnebago County Health Department, issued the following statement:
The Winnebago County Health Department is working with the Illinois Department of Public Health on a potential case of Hantavirus in a Winnebago County resident. This potential case is not related to the cruise ship outbreak. Hantaviruses are mainly spread from rodents to people through rodent urine, droppings, or saliva. The potential case had direct contact with rodent droppings while cleaning and had symptoms consistent with an exposure to Hantavirus. The suspected strain is not spread person to person. There is no risk to the community from this potential case and the resident is recovering.
While Hantavirus infection is rare, exposure to field mice and their droppings is common especially in communities similar to ours, you can take steps to reduce the risk of exposure to Hantavirus while cleaning up after rodents.
Copy Edited by Eryn Lent
Jenna Dooley contributed to this report
