Illinois Reports First Suspected Hantavirus Case of the Year in Winnebago County
State health officials say a northern Illinois resident in Winnebago County is the first potential hantavirus case of the year. The case is not connected to the MV Hondius cruise-ship outbreak, and the patient, who has mild symptoms, is recovering. IDPH is coordinating with local health departments and the CDC, and confirmatory testing at the CDC could take up to 10 days; North American hantavirus strains are not spread from person to person, and Illinois has had seven positive cases since 1993, most recently in March 2025.
