Potential hantavirus case being investigated in Illinois, not connected to cruise ship strain

ILLINOIS (CBS 58) -- A potential hantavirus case is being investigated in an Illinois resident, according to state health officials, however it is not believed to be the same deadly strain connected to the hantavirus-hit cruise ship. 

The Illinois Department of Public Health says they're investigating the potential case in a resident of Winnebago County, located near the Illinois-Wisconsin border. 

Dr. Mary Beth Graham is medical director of infection prevention and control at Froedtert Hospital, also an infectious disease physician and professor at Medical College of Wisconsin. She says a possible case like this in Illinois isn't all that unusual -- the U.S. sees a few hundred cases every year. There are more than 20 different strains, all known to be carried by rodents. 

Dr. Graham says the case doesn't seem to be the Andes strain, which can be spread from person to person, as identified on the Dutch cruise ship. 

"It would be highly, highly, highly, unlikely," Dr. Graham said. "This is just routine hanta, rodent droppings. Not one that goes person-to-person."

Officials in Illinois believe this person got the virus while cleaning a home with rodent droppings. Additional testing is needed to confirm the case, and that could take up to 10 days. 

Dr. Sandra Martell, public health administrator for the Winnebago County Health Department, says there is no risk to the community from this potential case. She says the affected resident is recovering.