Doctors warn about rise in respiratory illnesses in Chicago, Cook County
COVID-19 and RSV are relatively low in Chicago and Cook County, but it's the flu that's prompting health officials to sound the alarm, according to health officials.
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COVID-19 and RSV are relatively low in Chicago and Cook County, but it's the flu that's prompting health officials to sound the alarm, according to health officials.
Doctors said it's not too late to get the flu shot, which is still the best tool to reduce the risk of needing to go to the hospital.
In addition to norovirus, regular winter respiratory illnesses like RSV and flu are spiking, as is COVID-19.
The viral infections putting such on a strain on health systems that one hospital in the northwest suburbs had to stop accepting ambulances earlier this week. Sara Machi reports.
The Illinois Department of Public Health said cases of flu, RSV, and COVID-19 are on the rise across the state.
The new recommendations apply to COVID-19 and other viruses, like flu and RSV.
As of Tuesday, the Illinois Department of Public Health had the state under a moderate level of activity when it comes to respiratory illness.
We are now on the tail end of respiratory viral infection season, but doctors say we are not yet in the clear. CBS 2's Marybel Gonzalez reports.
Chicago saw a 14% spike in COVID hospitalizations in a period of just a week and has no signs of the virus letting up.
The new JN.1 variant is to blame for the latest spike.
COVID-19, the flu, and RSV are all hitting hard. In particular as COVID cases gradually increase, health leaders are reminding people to take the necessary precautions in protecting themselves. CBS 2's Jermont Terry reports.
In the last four weeks, hospitalizations are skyrocketing for the flu, RSV and COVID-19.
To take a look at why this is happening, epidemiologist, Dr. Katrine Wallace at the University of Illinois at Chicago explains the surge, the new COVID variant, and how it's different from the others.
"COVID-19 hospitalizations are rising quickly," the CDC said, and the new variant JN.1 is making up an increasing share of cases.
RSV cases are increasing ahead of winter. The virus can lead to very serious illness in both young children and elderly people. Vice president of pediatric primary care at Advocate Children's Hospital Dr. Julie Holland joined the stream to discuss best practices to stay safe this holiday season.
Can you get your COVID booster and flu shot at the same time? Here's what health experts say.
We're in the fall virus season, a time when we could see another tripledemic. That's when COVID-19, flu, and RSV make the rounds all at once.
Up to 10,000 deaths and 160,000 hospitalizations a year are caused by RSV in seniors.
March 2023 will mark three years since health officials declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Now, high case numbers of both flu and RSV are in the mix, creating what some people are calling a "tripledemic."
Because misinformation can spread so quickly on social media, we sat down with an expert to debunk some common misconceptions about the “tripledemic” of COVID-19, flu, and RSV. Dr. Jessica Brinkworth is an immunologist and assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Epidemiologist Dr. Katrine Wallace, known as Dr. Kat on social media, joins Brad Edwards on the stream to discuss another pandemic holiday season. This time, we also have an early flu season and RSV to also be concerned about.
With increased warnings about the so-called “tripledemic” of COVID-19, RSV, and the flu circulating right now, the American Lung Association has launched a new campaign encouraging people to protect themselves against all those viruses. They say for some it is especially dangerous, but getting vaccinated can make a big difference. Dr. Juanita Moro has advice on how to stay safe.
Earlier this week, CDC health experts said flu hospitalizations continue to remain at a 10-year high, and RSV infections are peaking in both kids and adults.
The number of COVID-19 cases in Illinois is expected to hit a nearly 10-month high by next week.
Local experts are warning of a triple-demic – with COVID, flu, and RSV cases in children all climbing for what is expected to be the worst season in a decade.
Steve Buzil with SitClose Tickets was outside Soldier Field doing another media interview about ticket sales on Sunday when he came across Ruth and Mikey.
The district said the victims were attempting to go ice fishing, and both were struggling to keep their heads above water.
The incident happened shortly before 4:30 p.m. in the vicinity of the 1400 block of North Lawndale Avenue, according to police.
The victim was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in unknown condition.
The regularly scheduled service flight between Detroit and Chicago's Midway landed safely after the cracked windshield was found.
Rick Garcia, a longtime Chicago LGBTQ+ activist and community leader who was at the forefront of many civil rights victories, died this week.
Republican Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, the committee's chairman, said the panel will move next week on holding them in contempt.
The Supreme Court heard two cases involving laws from Idaho and West Virginia that ban transgender athletes from participating in girls' and women's sports.
The group of journalists who won a preliminary injunction over federal agents' use of force have filed to have the same judge hear the state's new lawsuit against the Trump administration.
Does the Chicago Bears' dramatic improvement this season, culminating in their first playoff run in five years, change the discussion about where they will build a new stadium?
Police in the west Chicago suburb of Geneva are warning of a scam involving spoofed phone numbers.
Protesters on Tuesday were cranking up the heat on Peoples Gas over a recently proposed rate hike that would add an additional $10 to $11 a month to utility bills.
A lawsuit filed late last month took Chicago-based McDonald's to task over the McRib sandwich, calling its name a form of false advertising.
As this holiday season nears its end, Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias issued a warning Tuesday about text scams.
A new report shines a light on electricity shortages that Illinois could face in less than 10 years.
January is Radon Action Month, and the Cook County Department of Public Health is urging residents to test their homes for radon.
Severe flu season is sending many people to hospital emergency rooms across the country, including in the Chicago area.
Unionized health care workers this week took aim at Northwestern Medicine, saying the health care system needs to hire more people before expanding the emergency room at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced Tuesday that its recommendations for childhood vaccines will not be affected by a change in federal guidelines.
The first pediatric flu death for this year's flu season has been reported, Illinois health officials said, as flu cases across the state continue to rise.
Does the Chicago Bears' dramatic improvement this season, culminating in their first playoff run in five years, change the discussion about where they will build a new stadium?
The Piggery, a popular barbecue restaurant and bar in the northwest corner of Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood, announced Thursday that it is going out of business.
The Lincolnwood Town Center mall in the north Chicago suburb of Lincolnwood has been sold to a developer, the village announced Wednesday.
They do say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but a longtime Chicago fried chicken institution said imitation went too far after a new business opened with a very similar name.
A lawsuit filed late last month took Chicago-based McDonald's to task over the McRib sandwich, calling its name a form of false advertising.
Scott Adams, the cartoonist who created the "Dilbert" comic strip, has died at the age of 68, his first ex-wife revealed on Tuesday.
Here is everything you need to know about how to watch and stream the 2026 Golden Globes.
Bob Weir wrote or co-wrote and sang lead vocals on Grateful Dead classics including "Sugar Magnolia," "One More Saturday Night" and "Mexicali Blues."
Chicago Theatre Week brings value-priced tickets for shows from Feb. 5 until Feb. 15 at Chicago's stage venues. Tickets can sell for $30, $15, or even less.
Isiah Whitlock Jr. is perhaps best known for his role as state Sen. R. Clayton "Clay" Davis on HBO's "The Wire."
The Women's Soul Line Dance Group began just more than a year ago as a weekly gathering with just five women there, but has grown into a Tuesday staple that draws nearly 60 women of all ages.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released new numbers about the overall economy, showing modest inflation of .3% last month and 2.7% in the year. Streaming video services were a major outlier and saw an inflation of nearly 20% in the same period.
For Just $5, Cinemark theaters are letting people fill up their own buckets up to 400 ounces of popcorn. That's more than three gallons.
In its annual report, the American Cancer Society credits a decline in deaths to better treatments and advances in cancer detection.
Officials don't know how many monkeys are out there or where they came from.
Steve Buzil with SitClose Tickets was outside Soldier Field doing another media interview about ticket sales on Sunday when he came across Ruth and Mikey.
A man has been charged with reckless homicide and driving under the influence in a crash that killed two people outside Chicago Police Headquarters in 2024.
The Cook County Medical Examiner's office released Chicago Public School teacher Linda Brown's cause of death after an autopsy Tuesday.
The district said the victims were attempting to go ice fishing, and both were struggling to keep their heads above water.
Prosecutors said 40-year-old Demetrius Thurman used his phone to record video of the crime early Saturday morning.
Lead-based paint was banned for serious health reasons in 1978, but most homes built before then remain covered in it.
Fire department officials in Chicago's western suburbs said drone technology has been helping keep firefighters safe and make a major impact on public safety.
With the stores becoming a common target for thieves, some of the stores in the Chicago area are taking new steps to fight back.
As thousands of people are expected downtown for New Year's Eve celebrations, Mayor Johnson, the Chicago police, and the Office of Emergency Management and Communications are trying to get out ahead of any safety concerns.
Cameras not working, video evidence missed by police and a psychic that leads a hit and run victim's son to a clue that changes the case
Steve Buzil with SitClose Tickets was outside Soldier Field doing another media interview about ticket sales on Sunday when he came across Ruth and Mikey.
Ramova Theater in Bridgeport is setting up for a Bears vs. Rams watch party for thousands of fans Sunday.
The Chicago Bears are on a hot streak, which means fans looking for tickets to Sunday's playoffs game are a target for scammers and fraudsters.
Sports experts said there may be some advantages they have on their side to keep the playoff winning streak going.
Johnson made it clear that he didn't like the Packers in a locker room video following their Wild Card win.
A man was left in critical condition Tuesday morning after he was shot while driving in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood and went on to crash his car.
Adam Beckerink, the man charged with murder in the death of his estranged wife, Caitlin Tracey, was set to appear for a detention hearing Tuesday after being extradited to Chicago.
A man has been charged with stabbing a CTA passenger to death while the victim was sleeping on a Blue Line train over the weekend in the Loop.
The state of Illinois and city of Chicago are suing the Trump administration and Department of Homeland Security for unlawful use of force and dangerous tactics in immigration raids.
A man and a 6-year-old boy were stabbed in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood Sunday night.
