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Respiratory illness activity remained high in McHenry County heading into 2025, according to McHenry County Department of Health surveillance reports.
For the second consecutive week, flu, respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV and COVID-19, as well as respiratory illness activity as a whole, are classified as high in the county.
The health department’s most recent surveillance report covers the week of Dec. 29 through Jan. 4. The health department conducts more detailed surveillance from about the first week of October to the middle of May and releases the previous week’s data on Fridays, according to the health department website.
While respiratory illness remained high, emergency department visits for flu and COVID-19 are remaining stable, while emergency room visits for RSV declined from the week before, according to the health department report.
A little more than 3% of all emergency room visits in the county were due to COVID-19, while flu accounted for just less than 8% of those visits the week of Jan. 4.
RSV made up about 2% of emergency department visits in the week of Dec. 22 to 28, but declined to about 1.5% of all emergency room visits last week.
Respiratory illness emergency room visits decreased from about 20% of all visits during the week of Dec. 28 to about 19% of emergency visits for the week of Jan. 4.
The county also has seen an increase in whooping cough in recent months; more than 80 people had the disease in 2024, according to the health department’s preliminary data.
The health department has encouraged people to get flu, COVID-19 and RSV shots if they’re eligible, wash hands frequently and thoroughly, wear masks when ill or in crowded settings, avoid close contact with sick people and stay home when sick.
The health department also launched free COVID, flu and RSV testing this week for McHenry County residents who have symptoms of respiratory illness. Testing is expected to run through the end of respiratory illness season, which is the end of March or early April. Those who would like a free test can make an appointment online at mchenrycountyil.gov/departments/health-department/public-health-nursing/communicable-disease-program/respiratory-illness.
The tests will be available at the southeast corner of the health department parking lot outside Building A in Woodstock, 2200 N. Seminary Ave.
This week’s health department surveillance report can be found at mchenrycountyil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/114530/638720254715533081.