Very high flu activity reported in Illinois

IDPH reports 8.2% of ER visits were due to the flu, and about 30% of hospital admissions for acute respiratory cases were children between the ages of 5 and 17.
IDPH reports 8.2% of ER visits were due to the flu, and about 30% of hospital admissions for acute respiratory cases were children between the ages of 5 and 17. Photo credit GettyImages, Chris Boswell

The Illinois Department of Public Health Seasonal Respiratory Illness dashboard shows flu, COVID-19, and RSV cases are all trending higher with flu activity leading the way at the "very high" level for the week ending December 27, 2025; followed by COVID-19 activity at a moderate level and RSV activity at a low level.

IDPH reports 8.2% of Emergency Department visits were due to the flu, and about 30% of hospital admissions for acute respiratory cases were children between the ages of 5 and 17.

According to IDPH, only 1 in 5 people in Illinois got a flu shot and only 5% got the updated COVID-19 vaccine.

Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there have been at least 7.5 million illnesses, 81,000 hospitalizations, and 3,100 deaths from the flu so far this season.

Featured Image Photo Credit: GettyImages, Chris Boswell