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.
Inspector General Deborah Witzburg said Mayor Brandon Johnson's campaign promises of improved transparency in the mayor's office don't match his actions since he took office.
Food pantries in the Chicago area are racing to prepare for an expected increase in demand as changes to food stamps are set to have a major impact on May 1.
Students and teachers at Oakton College in northwest suburban Des Plaines will be back in the classroom on Friday, after flooding forced the school to move classes online earlier this week.
The Chicago Bears selected Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman with the 25th overall pick in the 1st round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night.
It's looking increasingly likely that Illinois voters will not see an amendment about creating a "millionaire tax" on the ballot in November.
Inspector General Deborah Witzburg said Mayor Brandon Johnson's campaign promises of improved transparency in the mayor's office don't match his actions since he took office.
It's looking increasingly likely that Illinois voters will not see an amendment about creating a "millionaire tax" on the ballot in November.
The Justice Department's internal watchdog said it will audit the department's compliance with the law that required the release of the Epstein files.
President Trump intends to nominate David Cummins to lead the Transportation Security Administration, according to a person familiar with the decision.
The order places FDA-approved products containing marijuana and state-regulated medical marijuana products at a lower drug classification.
In the legal venue of anti-trust enforcement, the state is not taking on the Trump administration, but rather filling a void that state officials say the Trump administration has vacated.
A passenger on an American Airlines flight from New York to Chicago has been charged with making a false bomb threat that forced an emergency landing at Detroit Metro Airport last month, according to a federal criminal complaint.
Skyrocketing property taxes continue to be a hot-button issue in Cook County — particularly since last fall, when many residents saw their tax bills increase by 100% or more.
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias this weekend issued a warning about a surge in text messages that falsely claim to come from his office or the DMV within it.
Tenants at a South Loop luxury high-rise that has been plagued with problems like broken elevators are vowing to fight five-day eviction notices.
A new $48 million wellness center opened Thursday in the West Garfield Park neighborhood. The goal is to improve the health and quality of life for people on the West Side of Chicago.
La Rabida Children's Hospital went all out for Earth Day on Wednesday, with volunteer cleanup efforts by staffers and activities for patients and families.
It has been several weeks since West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park, Illinois, abruptly shut down — and then on Wednesday, it just as swiftly partially reopened, with some services available.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says more than 80% of deaths related to pregnancy are preventable, and Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.
The United States has long struggled with understanding and finding ways to help treat mental illness. A new documentary, which is screening Saturday in Chicago, examines the reality of living with mental illness in America.
At a meeting on Tuesday, the Lincolnwood Village Board approved a pre-development agreement with the mall, providing a roadmap with the property owner for further preparations and government approvals for redevelopment.
The only remaining location of Pal Joey's pizzeria in Batavia, Illinois, will soon be going out of business, its owner announced this week.
Investment research firm Morningstar could move into the Thompson Center in downtown Chicago once Google is done renovating the former Illinois state government building.
Trader Joe's is planning to open a new location at the Lincoln Village Shopping Center in Chicago's North Park neighborhood, the office of Ald. Debra Silverstein (50th) recently announced.
The satirical news outlet The Onion has a new plan to take over conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' Infowars platforms and turn them into parodies.
Tickets for the 2026 Ravinia Festival season went on sale Thursday morning.
The satirical news outlet The Onion has a new plan to take over conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' Infowars platforms and turn them into parodies.
Emily Saliers, one-half of the Atlanta folk duo The Indigo Girls, has revealed that she has been diagnosed with two incurable movement disorders that will forever change the way that she sings.
Blues icon and world music pioneer Taj Mahal will be headlining the Chicago Blues Festival this June.
The United States has long struggled with understanding and finding ways to help treat mental illness. A new documentary, which is screening Saturday in Chicago, examines the reality of living with mental illness in America.
Chief meteorologist Albert Ramon has the latest 7-day forecast.
Students and teachers at Oakton College in northwest suburban Des Plaines will be back in the classroom on Friday, after flooding forced the school to move classes online earlier this week.
After four years on the job, Chicago Inspector General Deborah Witzburg's last day on the job was on Friday, as she spent her last day overseeing an office responsible for rooting out corruption, waste, and abuse in city government.
Food pantries in the Chicago area are racing to prepare for an expected increase in demand as changes to food stamps are set to have a major impact on May 1.
At least one person was killed and five others were injured in a shooting at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge on Thursday.
The man killed in a Little Village shooting Wednesday was a well-known neighborhood fruit vendor with a wife and baby who were just steps away when gunfire erupted, neighbors said.
A CTA train derailed Thursday evening near the Howard terminal in the Rogers Park neighborhood, disrupting service on the Red, Purple, and Yellow lines for several hours.
A man was injured Thursday morning in an apparent road rage shooting near Union Station in Chicago.
Inspector General Deborah Witzburg said Mayor Brandon Johnson's campaign promises of improved transparency in the mayor's office don't match his actions since he took office.
Food pantries in the Chicago area are racing to prepare for an expected increase in demand as changes to food stamps are set to have a major impact on May 1.
There are 22 city of Chicago crews out on our roads filling potholes across the city day in and day out.
Michaels spent years as an advocate for sexual assault survivors, putting pressure on Congress and speaking out on behalf of Jeffrey Epstein survivors, like herself.
Residents in one part of Chicago's Noble Square neighborhood say they've been dealing with cars careening off the Kennedy Expressway and crashing into their front yard for decades, and the state won't help.
Madeline Morgan said she was repeatedly stalked and abused, even though the man responsible was forced to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet, which was cut off.
Chicago deals with the worst traffic congestion in the U.S., according to the 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard from INRIX, a transportation analytics company.
The Chicago Bears selected Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman with the 25th overall pick in the 1st round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night.
Andrew Benintendi hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the ninth inning that lifted the Chicago White Sox over the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-1 for their third win in four games.
Dansby Swanson had his first game-ending hit in five years, and the Chicago Cubs rebounded from a pair of blown leads to beat Philadelphia 8-7 in 10 innings for their ninth straight win and the Phillies' ninth loss in a row.
A year after his passing, the late Chicago Bears legend Steve "Mongo" McMichael is being honored for advancing CTE research.
Here is what to know about where and when to watch the 2026 NFL Draft.
The family of a 16-year-old boy who was shot and killed while waiting for the bus near Hyde Park Academy High School said they believe the shooting was sparked by a minor argument earlier in the day at school.
A woman was ordered detained Thursday on charges that she shot and wounded three men on busy Irving Park Road in the Chicago neighborhood of the same name earlier this month.
A lockdown was lifted at Evanston Township High School on Thursday afternoon, after shots were fired at a park near the school.
Matthew Keirans used William Woods's identity for decades, then manipulated police into prosecuting Woods, who spent 428 days in jail and 147 days in a mental hospital before DNA evidence proved his innocence.
Chicago police are searching for a man wanted in an act of public indecency on a CTA 'L' train in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood.
