Flu Hospitalizations In Chicago Hit 3-Year High

CHICAGO — Flu-related hospital visits are rising to their highest levels in over three years across Chicago as health officials say there’s still time to get vaccinated.

The positivity rate of people testing for influenza is just over 24 percent, with emergency room visits spiking to “very high” levels, according to the latest data Saturday from the Chicago Department of Public Health.

Those levels are the highest since 2022. All age groups have seen increases, but most notably among children 17 years and younger, according to the health department.

The rise is driven by a new variant of the flu, known as “subclade K,” that’s led to outbreaks globally.

Across the United States, there have been at least 81,000 hospitalizations and 3,100 deaths from the flu this season, including eight deaths of children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“The respiratory season is here,” the city’s health department said in a statement. “Vaccines are the best way to protect yourself and others from severe disease.”

Free vaccinations are available at many pharmacies and the city’s standing Immunization Clinics, with locations and hours found here.

Eileen Manojlovic, a family nurse practitioner with Rush University System for Health, said basic hygiene is one of the best ways to stop the flu.

“Keep yourself healthy, make sure to take all your medication, drink plenty of fluids, get your vaccines, stay home until you don’t have a fever, cover coughs and wash hands,” Manojlovic said. “We usually see more cases after the holidays, after everyone is around a lot of people, not eating properly.”

High stress levels and a lack of sleep can also raise your chances of catching the flu, Manojlovic said.

Rush offers vaccinations at its urgent care clinics, 1625 N. Harlem Ave. and 539 N. Dearborn St.

“It’s not too late to get them,” Manojlovic said.

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, activity is currently “moderate” and COVID activity “remains low,” according to the city health department.

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