IDPH investigating possible hantavirus in Winnebago Co. not linked to cruise
Summary
Illinois health officials are investigating a possible hantavirus case in a Winnebago County resident unrelated to the recent cruise ship outbreak. The patient likely caught the virus from rodent droppings at home, and testing is ongoing to confirm the diagnosis.Key Facts
- The Illinois Department of Public Health is checking a possible hantavirus case in a person from Winnebago County, near Rockford.
- This case is not connected to the hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship.
- Three people on the cruise ship died from hantavirus, and several others were sick and quarantined.
- The virus spreads by breathing in dust contaminated with rodent droppings or by accidentally ingesting it.
- The patient had no international travel or contact with cruise ship passengers.
- The virus strain in Illinois is the North American type, which does not spread from person to person.
- Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, stomach pain, nausea, and severe breathing problems.
- Hantavirus cases in Illinois are very rare, with only seven confirmed since 1993.
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