Potential case of hantavirus reported in Illinois

Key Points:

• Illinois health officials are investigating a potential hantavirus case in a Winnebago County resident, believed to have contracted the North American strain from rodent droppings, with confirmation pending CDC testing that may take up to 10 days.
• The case is unrelated to a recent hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship involving the Andes strain, which can spread between people and has caused three deaths; Illinois has no known residents linked to that outbreak.
• The individual in Illinois is experiencing mild symptoms and recovering without hospitalization, and the state emphasizes the overall risk of hantavirus for Illinois residents remains very low.
• Illinois officials expressed concerns about federal public health preparedness, questioning the impact of reductions at CDC, NIH, and ASPR, as well as the U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization, on hantavirus surveillance and response.
• Hantaviruses are rodent-borne viruses that can cause severe illness, including hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, with no current antiviral treatment or vaccine available.