Fox 32 – Chicago
Rates of COVID, flu, and RSV on the rise in Illinois, health officials say
Alex Ortiz – December 23, 2024
The Brief
- Rates of COVID-19, flu and RSV are on the rise, according to Illinois public health officials.
- With hospital admissions for respiratory disease on the rise, Illinoisans are at greater risk of exposure during the holidays.
CHICAGO – Health officials warned that rates of respiratory illness are on the rise in Illinois in recent weeks as the holidays approach.
The Illinois Department of Public Health said the state’s overall level of illness rose from “low” to “moderate,” meaning that residents face a higher chance of being exposed to illnesses as families gather.
What we know
Data collected by the IDPH indicate that hospital admissions for COVID-19, flu and RSV all ticked up as a percent of all hospital admissions in the week ending Dec. 14.
The percentage of emergency department visits due to respiratory illness also increased from 13.8% in the previous week to 14.7%.
Illinois is also seeing a rise in ICU admissions due to RSV driven by children age 0 to 4.
“As we gather with our loved ones during the holiday season, please use all the tools at your disposal to protect friends and family who are most vulnerable to severe outcomes,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra in a statement. “This includes those who are over 65, very young children and people who are immunosuppressed.”
What you can do
Vohra added that the best protection against severe illness caused by COVID-19, flu, and RSV are highly effective vaccines that are widely available.
Other effective tools include enhanced ventilation and good hand hygiene.
Those with concerning respiratory symptoms should seek medical care, Vohra said.