CDC Confirms Negative Hantavirus Test for Winnebago County Resident

A Winnebago County resident suspected of having hantavirus has tested negative for the illness, state health officials announced Monday. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) confirmed that testing conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ruled out the virus in the individual, who lives in the Rockford area.

Health officials initially believed the patient may have contracted a North American strain of hantavirus through exposure to rodent droppings in a home. Unlike the Andes strain associated with recent international outbreaks, the North American strain is not transmitted from person to person. Following the CDC's findings, the IDPH stated the resident is no longer considered a potential case and no further public health intervention is necessary.

The IDPH had previously noted that the Winnebago County case was unrelated to an outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship. The resident had not traveled internationally or had contact with any passengers from the vessel. While the ship-related outbreak has reached 11 cases, including nine confirmed, state officials maintained that the local resident's symptoms were not linked to that event.

Public health officials reiterated that the risk of hantavirus remains very low for Illinois residents. The department continues to recommend that residents protect themselves by preventing rodent infestations in their homes and following safety protocols when cleaning up after rodents.