A potential hantavirus case unrelated to the recent outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship has been reported in Illinois, according to health officials in the state.
The resident of Winnebago County had not traveled outside the country and might have contracted the virus while cleaning a property with rodent droppings. The Illinois Department of Public Health noted this on Tuesday.
Fortunately, the individual’s symptoms were mild, and hospitalization was not necessary.
Health authorities believe this case may involve the North American hantavirus, which is generally less severe than the Andean variant known for its high mortality rate.
“In contrast to the Andean strain, which caused the outbreak on the cruise, the North American strain is not typically transmitted between people,” the IDPH reported.
Residents in Illinois face a very low risk of any hantavirus infection, they added.
Since surveillance began in 1993, Illinois has reported seven confirmed cases of hantavirus, with the latest occurring in March 2025.
Across the country, there have been 890 reported cases of hantavirus infections from 1993 to 2023.
Meanwhile, 18 passengers evacuated from the MV Hondius are still being monitored. Currently, 16 of them are in a Nebraska isolation unit, asymptomatic, while two others are under observation in Atlanta.
One individual at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta—known for treating the first Ebola patient in the U.S. in 2014—exhibited symptoms but tested negative for the Andean strain, as noted by the Department of Health and Human Services.
The two patients arriving in Atlanta were wearing protective equipment upon landing.
Georgia’s Governor Brian Kemp emphasized the hospital’s expertise, stating, “If you were among those stranded passengers, you would want the best care possible.” He referenced Emory’s treatment of Ebola patients as a reassuring point.
Passengers from the MV Hondius cruise, which originated in Virginia, are also being monitored, as reported.
Additionally, five other Americans are under observation for hantavirus without even being on the ship. This includes two individuals from New Jersey, two from Maryland, and one from California, all of whom were passengers on an international flight that included cruise passengers infected with the virus.
None of these five are showing symptoms, and it’s still uncertain if they were infected.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hantavirus patients are observed for 42 days, which is the virus’s incubation period.
The MV Hondius is now traveling to the Netherlands with just 25 crew members, including medical personnel, after departing the Canary Islands. Spain’s Health Minister Monica García confirmed the successful evacuation of 94 people before the ship set sail.
