05/12/2026
You may have seen hantavirus in the news lately following an outbreak linked to a cruise ship. Here’s what Illinois residents should know. ⬇️
At this time, Illinois has not been notified of any residents connected to the cruise ship outbreak, and the current risk to Illinois communities remains very low.
You may also see news about a separate hantavirus case in Illinois. That case is NOT RELATED to the cruise ship outbreak and does not involve the Andes virus strain linked to rare person-to-person spread. Take a deep breath and keep reading. We'll explain.
Hantaviruses are a family of viruses mainly spread through contact with infected rodents, including their urine, droppings, or saliva. Symptoms can start with fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, nausea, or stomach pain and may later include coughing and trouble breathing.
The Andes virus is the only hantavirus known to spread person to person, and that type of spread is rare and usually involves close contact. The rodents that carry Andes virus are not found in the United States.
While hantavirus infections are rare, they are not new or uncommon in the U.S., including Illinois. Public health teams regularly monitor and prepare for rodent-borne illnesses.
You can reduce your risk by:
➡️ Sealing holes and gaps where rodents can enter
➡️ Storing food securely
➡️ Using traps if needed
➡️ Cleaning rodent droppings carefully with disinfectant and gloves instead of sweeping
If you develop symptoms after possible rodent exposure, contact a health care provider and mention the exposure.
IDPH continues coordinating with health care providers, local health departments, and emergency management partners to monitor the situation and remain prepared to respond quickly if needed.
📰Read our full statement: https://dph.illinois.gov/resource-center/news/2026/may/idph-update-on-hantavirus.html
