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…