Public health leaders have urged Illinoisans to receive their flu shots and take other precautions as influenza cases continue to rise across the state. [Health News Illinois] 

The Department of Public Health said Monday that flu activity in the state has climbed to “Very High,” the most severe of five categories of respiratory illness activity as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Just over 5 percent of hospital admissions in the week ending on December 27 were connected to flu cases, more than double the rate from the prior week.

Nearly 22 percent of Illinoisans have received their flu shot this season, while only 6.8 percent have received the COVID-19 immunization.

“Illinois is facing a significant winter surge in seasonal respiratory illnesses with flu activity at very high levels,” IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said in a statement. “IDPH is monitoring the situation closely and working with our partners in public health and healthcare to protect Illinois families across the state.”

Illinois recently reported its first influenza death in a child this season. Last year, there were 12 pediatric deaths from influenza, 6 from RSV and 3 from COVID. 

The CDC reported Monday that visits to the doctor for fever plus a cough or sore throat, common flu symptoms, are at their highest level of respiratory illness since at least the 1997-98 flu season.

Nationally, about 8.2 percent of doctor visits were for flu-like symptoms during the last week of 2025. At the same point last season, that number was 6.7 percent.

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