Flu

A person in Louisiana has the first severe illness caused by bird flu in the U.S., health officials said Wednesday

Individuals interested in getting a flu shot through Morris Hospital should call a clinic to schedule an appointment in September and October.

The DeKalb County Health Department will offer walk-in flu vaccines to residents starting Monday in preparation for flu season.

The largest producer of fresh eggs in the U.S. said Tuesday it had temporarily halted production at a Texas plant after bird flu was found in chickens, and officials said the virus had also been detected at a poultry facility in Michigan.

IDPH has also confirmed this week that there was a third pediatric death due to influenza, all with December onsets

Silver Cross Hospital and Ascension St. Joseph-- Joliet have instituted extra precautions as winter respiratory illness season sees COVID-19, flu, and RSV numbers increase across the state, though local numbers remain moderate.

DeKalb County COVID-19 hospitalizations are on the rise, warned area health officials this week amid a statewide uptick in Illinois hospitalizations related to respiratory illnesses, which also include RSV and the flu.

RSV is causing a heavy burden of pediatric hospitalizations and the percent of lab tests that are positive for RSV have been rising for 10 consecutive weeks, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health

In the U.S., about 35 percent of U.S. adults and 33 percent of children have been vaccinated against flu, current CDC data indicates. That's down compared to last year in both categories.

With Thanksgiving rapidly approaching, the Will County Health Department’s Environmental Health Division wanted to remind residents about food safety at the holidays.

“Protecting yourself and your loved ones now will ensure protection throughout the fall/winter respiratory virus season," said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra

Back to school means back to the doctor for some, as three viral respiratory illnesses – influenza, RSV and COVID-19 – are again expected to dominate seasonal sickness trends this year, and area health officials say to expect an uptick in October.

The Illinois Department of Public Health is continuing to closely watch COVID-19 data and monitor other respiratory viruses, particularly flu and RSV, ahead of the fall and winter seasons.

With holiday gatherings around the corner and viral illnesses including flu and COVID-19 on the rise again, this Northwestern Medicine doctor offers tips to managing RSV symptoms, identifying what you have, and mitigating transmission risk.

Nearly half of all emergency room visits by school-aged children and young adults in Kane County hospitals are for flulike illnesses.

Flu season typically runs October April. But health care professionals in Will and Grundy counties are still diagnosing cases.

The McHenry County Department of Health reported an increase in seasonal influenza outbreaks and encouraged people to take action to prevent the spread of the virus.