Illinois is seeing a surge in hospitalizations from the flu, amid a nationwide uptick in respiratory illnesses in 2025.
The Illinois Department of Public Health said cases of flu, RSV, and COVID-19 are on the rise across the state.
Officials said 21% of emergency room visits in the last week of December were for respiratory illnesses, up from 17 percent the week before. During the same time period, the number of emergency room visits for the flu more than doubled, from 3% to 6.2%, while emergency room visits for COVID-19 rose from 1.5% to 2%.
The Illinois Department of Public Health expected the jump in respiratory illnesses because of low vaccination rates.
“The New Year has arrived, and Illinois is experiencing the expected winter surge in seasonal respiratory illnesses,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “It is now more important than ever to use the many tools at our disposal to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe. The most effective tool remains vaccinations for flu, COVID-19, and RSV. It is not too late to get your vaccines, as the seasonal respiratory season can extend late into the spring.”
Illinois also has seen a rise in intensive care unit admissions because of RSV, largely driven by kids ages 4 and under. So far this season, four children have died from these illnesses here in Illinois.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Illinois is just one of 36 states with high or very high levels of respiratory illness activity.
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