Prairie State Wire

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has reported an increase in respiratory illnesses across the state, raising the overall illness level from Low to Moderate. This uptick comes as families gather for holiday celebrations, increasing the risk of exposure to seasonal illnesses.

According to IDPH's Seasonal Respiratory Illness Dashboard, hospital admissions for COVID-19, flu, and RSV have increased as a percentage of all hospital admissions for the week ending December 14, 2024. Emergency department visits due to respiratory illnesses also rose from 13.8% to 14.7%. ICU admissions related to RSV are on the rise, particularly among children aged 0-4 years.

"As expected, Illinois is experiencing an increase in seasonal respiratory illnesses as winter arrives," said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. He advised using available tools to protect vulnerable individuals during holiday gatherings. "The best protection from severe illness caused by COVID-19, flu and RSV remains the highly effective vaccines that are widely available," Vohra added.

Director Vohra emphasized the importance of proper indoor ventilation and good hand hygiene at holiday gatherings. For those unvaccinated, public health officials recommend getting vaccinated soon as it takes about two weeks for full protection.

IDPH has posted new FAQ documents on its website with guidance on vaccinations and testing for seasonal illnesses. The CDC has also created a new Respiratory Illness Data Channel with county-specific information useful for travelers.

New vaccines approved by the FDA and CDC are now available: COVID-19 vaccines and flu shots are recommended for everyone over six months old; RSV vaccines are recommended for those 75 years and older or pregnant women in late stages of pregnancy.

If symptoms develop, self-isolation is advised unless medical care is needed. Anti-viral treatments for COVID-19 and flu should be started quickly after symptom onset—within five to seven days for COVID-19 and within 48 hours for flu—to be most effective.

COVID-19 tests can be found at no cost through federal programs like ICATT or covidtests.gov. Vaccines are widely available at pharmacies, hospitals, and community health clinics with appointments bookable online.

For vaccine locations near you, visit www.vaccines.gov or check IDPH’s Vaccine Locator Dashboard for additional options if uninsured or underinsured.