Illinois health officials announced Tuesday that they are investigating a potential hantavirus case, adding that the risk of transmission remains “very low” for residents.
The deadly virus was discovered at the center of an outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship, leading to 11 cases and three deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.
The Illinois Department of Public Health said in a statement that it is investigating a potential hantavirus case that is not linked to the cruise ship outbreak.
What is hantavirus?
Hantaviruses are a class of viruses that originate from wild rodents, according to the IDPH. While the viruses do not produce disease in rodents, they can cause illness in humans.
Illinois has seen seven positive hantavirus cases since surveillance began in the U.S. in 1993.
How deadly is hantavirus?
The most recently identified hantavirus can affect the lungs, causing an illness called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). The illness can be life-threatening, with an estimated fatality rate of approximately 38% among patients with severe respiratory symptoms, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
How is hantavirus spread?
Hantavirus is typically transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodents, according to the IDPH.
This could be in the form of breathing dust contaminated by the rodent’s urine, saliva or feces, ingesting food or water tainted by the rodent or having contaminated material make its way into broken skin or a mucous membrane. In rare cases, humans can also be bitten by an infected rodent.
The CDC reported that the type of hantavirus responsible for the outbreak on the cruise ship is the Andes virus, the only type of hantavirus shown to spread from person to person.
The center confirmed that human-to-human spread of the Andes virus remains rare but can be accomplished through close, prolonged contact with a symptomatic person. This could be in the form of direct physical contact, prolonged time in a close or enclosed space or exposure to the infected person’s body fluids through kissing, sharing utensils, etc.
Possible hantavirus case reported in Illinois
The department said the impacted individual in Illinois lives in Winnebago County and is believed to have contracted the virus while cleaning a home where rodent droppings were present. Unlike the Andes virus discovered on the cruise, the Illinois resident is believed to have a North American strain that is not known to spread from person to person.
The IDPH said the resident “has not travelled internationally and has not come in contact with individuals associated with the MV Hondius outbreak.” They also are not seriously ill and recovered after experiencing mild symptoms.
The CDC is currently conducting additional testing to confirm whether the individual is positive for hantavirus, according to the IDPH. The CDC said the test results could take up to 10 days.
How high is risk in Illinois?
An IDPH spokesperson told the Journal Star that the risk for Illinois residents is “currently very low.”
“The (IDPH) has not been notified of any Illinois residents being passengers on the MV Hondius during the Hantavirus outbreak,” the department said. “IDPH will proactively update the public should there be any changes.”
Which US states are most at risk for hantavirus?
USA TODAY reported that more than a half dozen U.S. states are monitoring individuals who have either been exposed to or are exhibiting symptoms of hantavirus.
These are:
It is still unclear in which states the passengers who returned to the U.S. on May 11 reside.
CONTRIBUTING: Melina Khan and Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Potential hantavirus case in Illinois. Officials reveal the details
Reporting by Hannah Hudnall, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
