A possible case of hantavirus in Illinois not believed to be connected to the recent cruise ship outbreak that killed at least three people has sparked questions about how the virus can spread in the state and whether homeowners should be concerned about mice or rats.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, a potential case was reported in Winnebago County, just outside the Chicago area.
The person who potentially contracted the virus is “suspected to have acquired a North American strain of the virus while cleaning a home where rodent droppings were present,” IDPH said in a statement.
“The resident lives in Winnebago County, has not travelled internationally, and has not come in contact with individuals associated with the MV Hondius outbreak,” IDPH said in a statement.
Passengers on the MV Hondius cruise ship are currently quarantining in the U.S. following an outbreak on the ship of what is believed to be the Andes virus, a strain of hantavirus capable of spreading person to person. The possible Illinois case is a different strain, health officials said.
So how easily can the virus spread and should you be worried if you have rodents in or around your home?
Officials stressed the “current risk to Illinois communities remains very low” and “the rodents that carry Andes virus are not found in the United States.”
“Hantavirus infections are rare, but they are not new or unheard of in the U.S., including Illinois. Public health teams regularly monitor and prepare for illnesses like this,” IDPH said.
If confirmed, this case would be the eighth positive hantavirus case in Illinois since 1993. The most recent confirmed case was in March 2025, according to IDPH. The U.S. has recorded 890 cases of hantavirus since 1993.
“We’ve never had a documented hantavirus case in the rats here in Chicago. Most of the hantaviruses that we see here in North America is actually west of the Mississippi,” Dr. Michael Angarone with Northwestern Medicine told NBC Chicago. “I think this is something that is very rare, but we’re all paying attention to it and monitoring it. And that’s the best thing that we can do is staying informed and knowing everything we can about this and what we need to do. And right now here in Chicago, we’re not at risk of this virus.”
So what can you do if you suspect you may have rodents in your home or around it?
“You can lower your risk by sealing holes where rodents can enter, storing food securely, using traps if needed, and carefully cleaning rodent droppings with disinfectant and gloves instead of sweeping,” IDPH said. “If you develop symptoms after possible rodent exposure, contact a health care provider and mention the exposure.”
The CDC is still conducting additional testing to confirm the rodent in the Illinois case is positive for hantavirus, officials said, and the test could take up to 10 days to complete.
The Illinois resident is not seriously ill and is recovering after experiencing mild symptoms that did not require they be hospitalized, according to IDPH.
Symptoms of hantavirus
According to the CDC, early symptoms of the virus can look similar to many other illnesses, with symptoms like fatigue, fever and muscle aches, particularly in large muscle groups like the thighs, hips, back, and sometimes shoulders.
In addition to those, however, about half of patients also experience:
Headaches Dizziness Chills Abdominal problems, like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal painAfter these early symptoms, later stages of the virus can bring more serious concerns, the CDC noted.
Four to 10 days in, patients might experience things like coughing, shortness of breath, tightness in their chest and fluid in their lungs.
An infection can rapidly progress and become life-threatening.
Symptoms of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome usually show between one and eight weeks after contact with an infected rodent. As the infection progresses, patients might experience tightness in the chest, as the lungs fill with fluid.
“HPS can be deadly. Thirty-eight percent of people who develop respiratory symptoms may die from the disease,” the CDC reported.
The other syndrome caused by hantavirus — known as hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, which can cause bleeding, high fever, and kidney failure — usually develops within a week or two after exposure.
Death rates vary by which hantavirus causes the illness. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is fatal in about 35% of people infected, while the death rate for hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome varies from 1% to 15% of patients, according to the CDC.
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